Control the Controlables

You can’t control what happens but you can control how you react to it.

This applies to all aspects of life, things around us, decisions of others, other people’s actions will have an impact on your own life and change things, whether it be for the better or worse. Sometimes you might be able to influence them a bit but sometimes things really are beyond your control. When that happens how you decide to respond to it is the only thing you do have control over. You could ignore something, hide your head in the sand, decide to take the best curse of action available and so on. You can be angry and frustrated or decide no to stress about things you can’t control or anything in between.

This applies to your diet and exercise too.

Things will happen most weeks that stop you doing what you planned. Kids get sick, work deadlines, a cold, a birthday, the list is endless. Some of these things you can plan for and work round. Some will pop up and mean plans have to change and there’s not much you can do.

How you react to that is what matters here. You could press the f**k it button. Think well this weeks messed up so I may as well just do nothing and eat a load of junk and start again next week. Or you could think well, I can’t do what I planned but I could focus on doing what I can. I might not be able to cook the meal I planned but I could pick up something quick and easy and still healthy instead of ordering a takeaway. I might not be able to go to the gym after work now but I could still go for a quick walk when I get in and get some steps in and some fresh air.

Not only do these actions effectively act as damage limitation, they’re also more likely to make you feel more positive about yourself and the situation, less frustrated, and therefore not only just better about whatever happened in the first place also more positive about keeping working towards your goals.

Focusing on what you can control over what you can’t isn’t a magic wand. It won’t stop you being annoyed or frustrated about situations but it can help you reign those emotions in a bit and help you get the best possible scenario for yourself.