Focus only on what you can control

You will waste a lot of time and energy trying to control everything and everyone around you.  In fact, you can’t!  The only thing you can really control is your self – your own attitude and behaviour.

People can behave in any way they choose but all you can control is your own response.  And it is important that you do.  When others behave badly, it is a strong temptation to respond with similar behaviour, particularly when rudeness or aggression is involved.

Our non-thinking response comes directly from Ego.  We don’t want the other person to get away with their inappropriate outburst.  But meeting rudeness with more rudeness and aggression with more aggression only serves to escalate to situation.  Abuse and violence can quickly result from a poorly chosen response, where calmness and soft words could have diffused it.

When you employ someone, you may be tempted to believe think that for the amount you are paying them, they should work 24/7 and that you should own their soul and their children as well.  The fact is you don’t!

You can’t control other people’s feelings, desires and emotions.  You can make them go through the motions of performance but you can’t make them put their heart and soul into their work.  You can talk, cajole and influence but you can’t make them care about your business as much as you do.  You can make working for you an attractive choice, but it is only a choice.  You can’t stop someone from leaving you.  When people want to follow their own path, ultimately you must let them.

The best you can hope for is to influence the actions of others but you will never own anyone or control their thoughts.

Until next time!

Gary