Create a control list to identify what you can control

There are a lot of things you can't control and neither can I. Global events, other people's opinions, past decisions that can't be changed, they're out of our control. But trying to control everything is still one of the most common negative thought patterns that I see. This is where making a control list can help. A control list is a helpful reminder about what's within your control, what you can influence, and what's completely outside of your control. I want you to think of a recent situation at work where you felt overwhelmed or stuck in a negative thought pattern of anxiety or worry. Maybe you were dealing with a difficult coworker and you weren't sure how to handle it. Or maybe you were worried that a customer might not renew their contract. Now grab a piece of paper or open a word doc and create three different columns labeled can control, can influence, and can't control. With your difficult situation in mind under can control list all the things that are directly within your…