Serenity in Action: Focusing on What You Can Control
Life throws us challenges every day, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when things seem out of our hands. But here’s a simple truth: peace and resilience come from focusing on what you can control and letting go of what you can’t. While this mindset shift takes practice, it can lead to profound changes in how you navigate life.
Things You Can Control
Instead of being consumed by the chaos of the uncontrollable, redirect your energy to these six areas of control:
Your Thoughts Your inner dialogue shapes how you view the world. By practicing mindfulness and reframing negative thoughts into opportunities for growth, you can develop a more optimistic and empowering outlook. Remember, while you can’t stop every negative thought, you can choose how to respond to it.
Your Productivity Productivity is not about perfection but progress. Break your goals into smaller, actionable steps and celebrate each milestone, no matter how small. By doing so, you’ll build momentum and a sense of accomplishment.
Your View of Yourself Self-compassion is vital. Replace self-criticism with kindness and remind yourself of your strengths and achievements. The way you see yourself has a powerful impact on your confidence and ability to face challenges.
Your Work Ethic You may not always have control over your circumstances, but you can control how you show up. Commit to putting in your best effort, regardless of external outcomes.
Your Actions Your actions shape your daily experiences and interactions. How you respond to challenges, how you treat others, and how you carry yourself are all within your control. Choosing to act with integrity, patience, and purpose can positively impact both your life and the lives of those around you.
How You Treat Others Kindness and empathy are within your control, and they have a ripple effect. A kind gesture or word can brighten someone’s day and create meaningful connections.
Things You Can’t Control
Acknowledging what lies beyond your control can be liberating. Here are some common areas to let go of:
Other People’s Opinions You cannot control how others perceive you. Trying to win everyone’s approval is exhausting and unnecessary. Instead, focus on being true to yourself.
Unexpected Events or Challenges Life is unpredictable. While you can prepare and adapt, you can’t prevent every challenge. Accepting this unpredictability allows you to focus on how you respond instead.
The Outcomes of Every Effort Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things don’t go as planned. Detach from the outcome and take pride in the process and the effort you’ve put in.
The Past or the Future Neither the past nor the future is within your grasp. You can’t rewrite history or control what’s yet to come, but you can focus on the present moment and make it count.
Practical Steps to Let Go
Letting go of what you can’t control doesn’t mean giving up—it means creating space for peace and focus. Here are some practical tips:
Pause and Reflect: When you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to ask yourself: Is this within my control? If it’s not, practice letting it go.
Take Small Steps: For areas you can control, start with small, actionable steps to build confidence and momentum.
Practice Mindfulness: Ground yourself in the present moment through deep breathing, meditation, or journaling.
Focus on Gratitude: Shifting your focus to what’s going well can help reframe your perspective.
Fun Fact:
I've always loved the Serenity prayer and it’s the inspiration behind the name Serenity Behavioral Health. "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference"
Final Thoughts
Peace doesn’t come from controlling everything—it comes from knowing where to direct your energy. By focusing on what you can control and releasing what you can’t, you open the door to resilience, growth, and a more fulfilling life.
💡 Therapist Tip: Remember, this is a practice. Be patient with yourself as you build this habit. Even small shifts can lead to big transformations over time.
Let go, grow, and thrive.