Who’s In Charge of YOU?
“You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.”~~~ Brian Tracy
Yes! That is such a good question, isn’t it? Who’s in charge of you? I often ask that of myself — who’s in charge of me? Who controls my life? Who controls your life? Do you suppose it could be someone or something outside of yourself?
A little over a week ago, Robert Goulet, a famous singer, Broadway actor and movie star in America, passed away. This was a major upset for me for many reasons. He was 73 years old — almost 74. I’m 73 — almost 74. He died from pulmonary fibrosis. I have pulmonary fibrosis. He had cancer. I have cancer. He was feeling well and performing on stage in New York one month ago. I know that pulmonary fibrosis can turn terminal without warning. This set of similarities makes me ask, “Was he in charge of himself over this past month?” I know he died in a hospital waiting for a lung transplant. I wonder, and will probably never know, what he was thinking during that final month. Was he in charge — or were others managing his life? Had he lost his control over his own life?
I’m no different than everyone else — I know what it’s like to want to be in control — it’s a form of survival skill, isn’t it? We have every right to be in control of our own bodies — our own lives. I would hate to not be in control of my own body — my own life. It’s where we get whatever power we may have.
All of this gives me a need to talk about control and how it can affect all of us.
Control can become a negative in our lives. That happens when we try to reach beyond our own selves and attempt to control the lives of others.
We do this often because we tell ourselves that “we’re only trying to help”. Most often this is the case with parents and children. If you’re a parent, don’t you find that there are times when you’re attempting to control your child’s behavior — trying to get them to behave in ways you find acceptable? This also happens with life partners — or siblings — or friends. We have a tendency to interfere with another’s life happenings rather than just allowing events to unfold on their own.
“The sign of an intelligent people is their ability to control their emotions by the application of reason.”~~~ Marya Mannes
Almost everyone has at least one situation or relationship in which they try to exert control over another. This often happens because someone’s behavior makes us uncomfortable. We may feel that behavior makes us look bad, or it embarrasses us. For example, do you have anyone in your life who smokes? If you’re not a smoker, it’s only natural for you to do whatever you can to convince that person to stop. You know it’s bad for them and you’re just “trying to help”. Yet, in the final analysis, only that person can decide to stop smoking. You can’t “control them” into doing it.
So often the need to try to control others comes out of an unwillingness to let go and allow people to live their own lives. We believe that we know better what’s best for them. We know what WE would do if it was OUR life, right? So, we try to step in and get them to do what we would do. It’s my opinion, (and you can disagree if you want), that we try to control others because, if we don’t, we’re afraid of whatever unknown will possibly happen if we just leave them alone.
“If a man will understand how intimately, yea, how inseparably, self-control and happiness are associated, he has but to look into his own heart, and upon the world around,…Looking upon the lives of men and women, he will perceive how the hasty word, the bitter retort, the act of deception, the blind prejudice and foolish resentment bring wretchedness and even ruin in their train.”~~~ James Allen
The only life any of us has within our control is our own. The only life we can live, is our own. It can be difficult to just let others be who they are, especially if we feel we know what’s best for them. The best way to show people that we respect them is to trust that they will find their own way — and in their own time. After all, it is their own life — and they are the only ones who can live it.
“Ill blows the wind that profits nobody”~~~ William Shakespeare
Namaste!
P.S. If any of you were confused about the use of the word “train” in the quote above from James Allen, I found the definition for the way he used the word. It is one of over 29 definitions for the word “train”:
…. a series of proceedings, events, ideas, etc.
or …. the series of results or circumstances following or proceeding from an event, action, etc.; aftermath: Disease came in the train of war.
And, as I always say in closing — remember these words …
You are the most precious gift you can give yourself. Every day look in the mirror and say, “I’m available to more good than I have experienced, realized or imagined ever before in my life!” Do this every day while you look into your own eyes.
You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.
Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”~~~ Mother Theresa (1910-1997)
~~~ DBL-R
P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically, whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.
================================================================
As you know, I do practice sitting, silent meditation every day in my life. Recently, I did a podcast about this for another blog that I read. Take a moment and click this link to hear what meditation means to me and what it does for me.
In my meditation I use what I truly believe is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.
Regular, daily meditation can give you …
(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —
— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.
With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution
====================================================================
|
Receive a ====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, The Secret, Law of Attraction, dreams, spiritual energy, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life[/tags]
