Recognizing What You Can and Can’t Control
In life, there are countless situations where external factors feel overwhelming or out of your control. Recognizing what you can influence versus what lies beyond your control is essential for maintaining balance, focus, and confidence - especially when striving toward health and wellness goals.
While you may not be able to control every part of your work day, social gatherings, or even what options are available on vacation, you can control your choices, how much you eat, and how you respond to others’ comments.
Let’s put this into perspective with an example:
Jill loves Thanksgiving; her family hosts a large festive dinner and she enjoys helping with the preparation, particularly making appetizers. After the meal, Jill often brings home a variety of leftovers to enjoy for the rest of the week. This year, Jill wants to find a way to fully enjoy her favourite time of year while also staying focused on her health goals - without sacrificing the joy and tradition of the season.
Jill has preemptively reflected on what she can and can’t control: 
Having distinguished between what she can and cannot control for the Thanksgiving gathering, Jill is going into the event feeling confident. She is crystal clear on the parts that she can control and will make deliberate choices on, and will do her best to accept the parts that she cannot control.
A thoughtful reflection on the aspects of various situations that you can and can’t control can help you plan ahead, reduce stress, and make it easier to stay on track, so you can enjoy important moments without guilt or regret, feeling confident and in control.
Now It's Your Turn!
