Panda Ramblings Taking Control

[windwalker]

Taking Control

Our lives are too short to be squandering our precious time on worry and unhappiness. When we despair over what might have been instead of what can be, we are compromising our ability to truly be happy. Happiness is a direct result of the choices we make and how we perceive the situations we find ourselves in. Happiness is also knowing that you have control of your life.

Feel like you are being pushed along life’s highway instead of choosing your own path? Who is in control of that person you see when you look in the mirror? Does work, your peers or debts and obligations, control your life more than you do? Have you given up on your ability to make changes? If you answered yes, it’s time to rethink where you are and what you want. Indications that we are not in control are often hard for us to identify in ourselves; trouble falling asleep; waking feeling tired; inability to concentrate without effort; easily irritated at insignificant issues; others frequently comment that you are over reacting; feelings of sadness or anxiety. All these are signs that something is wrong.

I cannot say this strongly enough, you own you. You work, but you’re not enslaved. You can choose to do something different that would be more satisfying. What is holding you back from gaining control? If it’s a mountain of debt, there are free services that provide credit counseling to gain control of your debt. Lack of education keeping you from getting a better job or advancing in your career? Again there are free state and federal programs that will guide you in that pursuit. There are many helping agencies that our tax dollars pay for that most people don’t even know about. A good first goal might be to find out what help is available and then take action to get that assistance. I’ve mentioned, in articles before, that you can buy the text book for a class and acquire the knowledge, if it’s a skill and not a degree that is needed. You can even learn things like computer operating systems with online training courses. The important thing is looking at your personal life situations and deciding what needs attention. Once you can identify your stressors, you can begin to see things more as concern and solution rather than vague worry and feeling helpless.

I write on the subject of wellness, mostly about the affect that regular motion has on our overall health. There is more to wellness than eating clean and getting regular exercise. Feeling in control of your life and reducing the stressors are just as important. However, the physical and mental both require action to achieve positive results. You must regularly move forward mentally as well as physically. All the helping agencies in the world can’t help if you don’t do your part first. Taking control of the real life issues you face can be hard, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Remember, we get only one shot at life so if you don’t make this one count you don’t get a do over.

We are the boss when it comes to our thoughts and actions. When you are the boss and you don’t like the way things are then it’s up to you to initiate the needed action. People often spend way more mental energy on activities like playing computer games or watching television than on making plans and setting goals. Once you have decided that you are not satisfied with the way things are then the next step is to make easily achievable goals. You can’t change everything you’re not happy with at once, so your goals have to be targeted toward your most important priorities first. After you have started taking those steps forward, you can enjoy your hobbies and games even more, because you have taken action to gain control of the stressors that kept you from truly relaxing.

Take some time and think about your life. What is missing that would make you happier. What needs to be changed to help you feel more satisfied. Do you have time for hobbies, reading, and sports. Are you in a never ending eat, sleep, work, worry circle. Once you decide what needs changing then make some plans and turn those plans into a series of measurable, achievable goals. When you start on those changes don’t be afraid to modify your plans. Sometimes a goal that seemed attainable will turn out to be too ambitious. The important thing to remember is as Walk Disney said, “Keep moving forward”. If you fail at a goal, learn from it and press on. Do not ever empower yourself to quit by saying, “well I tried”. When you fail, as sometimes you will, then it’s time to get some advice and get moving again.

The best way to get the process of making needed changes started is to find the right time and atmosphere to think. That’s why I mentioned activities like playing computer games and watching television, they distract you. Hiding behind those distractions may make a few hours or a day more bearable, but do nothing to resolve the issues that bind you. In order to think clearly you have to meet your thoughts head on without any distractions. I take long training walks or go on short vacations to quiet and serene locations when I need to think a problem through. I have found that taking long walks with my lady helps, because I can get her point of view and input as well. Sometimes taking those long walks with friends help as well. Again, they can see things about you that you are missing.

It doesn’t take long for changes to be noticeable, because once you take control, then you and everyone else will start seeing you differently. You will have already made the most important change you will ever make.

Thanks for reading.

Dave