In the most recent weeks, I’ve been attempting to establish new boundaries and find ways to simplify my life a little more. It’s extremely challenging to simplify when my expectations are rather high AND that little control issue I have tend to creep back in. Control is often a quality we associate with success; being in control and being able to control imply a sense of power, an impact on your surroundings. But lately, as I navigate through so many transitions at once, I have found that sometimes my need for control has driven me to complicate things in my life that would otherwise be simple.
Embrace the Unexpected
In a year where transition has been unexpected and frequent, I find my need to control the outcomes of every situation overwhelming. We all want to be sure of how everything is going to turn out, to do all we can to get positive results. Sometimes though, the effort we put in exceeds the benefits we get out. We miss out on the moments that we should be cherishing. Why? Because we are contributing so much complexity to our life and our decisions.
Introducing Boundaries
As a New Year’s resolution, I am eager to work on simplifying my life a bit and trying to enjoy outcomes that may surprise me. How do I do this? By reintroducing a recurring matter in my life: boundaries. By accepting my limits as a person and relinquishing control over every facet of my life, I am finding a new brand of success, a way of making my life flow easier.
Finding Trust
Boundaries alone, however, aren’t enough to add simplicity to your life. You must pair every boundary with trust. Trust that if you release control, someone else will pick up that slack. Trust that someone else’s approach may still bring positive outcomes, even if it is different from what you would do (those dishes will still get clean even if your husband isn’t as good at loading the dishwasher Tetris style). Trust that others will understand when you need to say “no” (sometimes prioritizing your mental health means you can’t always be available).
And if all else fails? All it takes is remembering with grace that God is looking out, that the ultimate control is His.
I am allowing myself to let go and trust in Him from this day forward.
