I want to be in control at all times. Of myself, of my circumstances, of my time, of my future, even of other people.

That’s a lot to have on my mental plate, so my desire to be in control makes me anxious.

The reality, of course, is that I am not and cannot be in control of many things. Life happens, and nobody tends to consult me about it.

And that makes me even more anxious.

I envision control as a clenched fist. Clenching your fist requires energy. After a while, it’s exhausting. If you keep trying to clench your fist, your whole body gets tense. As your grip starts to slip and you try even harder, things get worse.

Likewise, seeking to be in control requires energy. After a while, it’s exhausting. If you keep trying to maintain control, your whole mind gets anxious. As your grip starts to slip and you try even harder, things get worse.

There’s only one way of controlling the anxiety caused by control:

Let go.