The Wave: Navigating Life’s Currents

The Wave: Navigating Life’s Currents

I wanted to acquaint you with a new book I am writing.   Its title is The Wave: Navigating Life’s Currents. The mystery, randomness, and freeness of ocean waves  (high and low tides, riptides and undertows, crests, swells, murky waters...

Truths and Tips #9: Letting Go of Control

Truths and Tips #9: Letting Go of Control

Q: What is wrong with trying to control the circumstances of our lives? A: It’s important to distinguish between those circumstances that are set or fixed and those that are not.

Truths and Tips #7: Letting Go of Control

Truths and Tips #7: Letting Go of Control

Q: How can letting go of control allay some of the fear and anxiety associated with the current economic uncertainty brought about by Covid-19? A: The feeling of being powerless over our finances (and job prospects) can be extremely discomfiting...

Truths and Tips #6: Letting Go of Control

Truths and Tips #6: Letting Go of Control

          Q: Is it difficult to let go of control?  Where does one begin?  A:   Letting go of control can be extremely difficult because we have been raised with control; it is taught to us and all around us.  Our parents, bosses, teachers, and...

         Truths and Tips #5: Letting Go of Control

         Truths and Tips #5: Letting Go of Control

Q: How does our need to control stiffen life’s possibilities?  A:   When we focus too intently on trying to control or change people and things we are putting “blinders” on our selves, and literally can’t see the options and opportunities that...

Truths and Tips #4: Letting Go of Control

Truths and Tips #4: Letting Go of Control

Q: What does a person gain when they relinquish control?  A: They gain greater vision and clarity—and ultimately greater serenity. Relinquishing control (or, as I sometimes say, losing control) frees life’s “natural currents” and allows us to...

Truths and Tips #3: Letting Go of Control

Truths and Tips #3: Letting Go of Control

Q: How can we reduce our fears so that we will control less?  (Part 2) A: Letting Go of Control Truths and Tips Q&A #2 emphasized the importance of identifying our fears as the first step in reducing or removing them. Once you have a clearer...

Letting Go of Control Truths and Tips (#2)

Letting Go of Control Truths and Tips (#2)

Truth and Tips Q&A #1 explained how fear was the prime driver of our need to control others and outcomes. Q&A #2 is a logical follow up: Q:How can we reduce our fears so that we will control less? (Part One)  A:  Effectively reducing our...

Letting Go of Control Truths and Tips (#1)

Letting Go of Control Truths and Tips (#1)

The need to reign in our unhealthy compulsion to control is thus more important than ever, whether we are a so-called “control freak,” a micro-manager, a nitpicker, or simply someone who controls excessively. Toward that end, I will be sharing...

The Harms of Withdrawal–And How to “Return”

The Harms of Withdrawal–And How to “Return”

  In a recent post, I explained how procrastination is a control based avoidance mechanism that carries potentially severe consequences.  Withdrawal is another such mechanism that can be even more detrimental to our well-being. At times we all...

The Instant Holiday Stress Remover!

The Instant Holiday Stress Remover!

The Holidays are upon us!  As beautiful as this season is with decorations, holiday songs, and gift giving, it also comes with a lot of stress , anxiety, apprehension  and agitation.   Getting the expensive item on sale, standing in lines, and...

Avoiding Avoidance

Avoiding Avoidance

                         Many of us have little inkling about how much, how often, and in what ways we try to control people and things around us—and how it harms us.  Controlling conduct is not always assertive or overt.   It is often subtle and...