Focus only on what you can control.

It’s hard not to think in survival mode when our world is in crisis mode. When disruption hits in big waves, our natural tendency is to jump in and try to fix everything.

So, what do you do when all the parts are moving, including the ones that weren’t moving before all hell broke loose?

We still have so much that hasn’t settled down much at all.

But is that really true, or does it just seem that way?

Forget all the craziness of the pandemic and everything else for a moment… easier said than done, right? But do your best.

As simple as it sounds—and I know you’ve heard it before—the first step is to step back. Step back far enough so you can actually see what you need to see. 

Look for what’s actually standing in the way. Is the barrier that seems to be stopping you real or perceived? Make sure it’s a battle you need to fight. Many are not.

Keep this in mind too…

Most of the discomfort comes from being stuck in a survival mindset.

That’s our primitive brain at work trying to make us feel safe. Make sure you notice I said feel safe. Those hard-wired instincts want us to feel safe so we can continue to fight the sabertoothed tigers when in reality, there are no tigers.

Although we’re still in uncertain times, the horizon is beginning to look better every day. Avoid a mindset of projecting one real problem onto another situation that is just fine. When disruption is abundant, everything tends to look like a problem.

The key is to focus on what’s actually within your control.

Remember too, even if you can control something, that doesn’t automatically mean it’s a place to expend precious energy and other resources. Ask yourself, “Is this working well enough right now?”

That also means letting go of those distractions that we reactively think we should be able to control. Stop-trying-to-control-everything. You can’t.

When you allow yourself to focus outside your sphere of control, you simply burn essential emotional and intellectual energy you could apply elsewhere. 

Ask yourself, “Can I control this?”

Make a list of everything you can think of that is causing you stress and frustration. Then ask yourself, “Can I control this?” Sometimes you’ll have to dig a little deeper to be sure you’re being honest with yourself.

You’ll start to see what you can control and what you can’t. You may find that you have some level of influence, but still do not have true control. Those areas require more critical thinking to make an honest value judgment.

By focusing on what’s in your control and accepting what’s not, you’ll be more able to generate forward momentum.

And action builds momentum which builds motivation.

The bottom line is to take action where your efforts have influence and impact. Take steps that will help dictate your future rather than passively waiting to see what happens.

You can’t control an economic shutdown, but you can control how you respond (Notice that I didn’t say ‘react’). And think about the steps you can take now to be more prepared for the next disruption. Because there will be another disruption—that you can count on.

Focus your energy where you have control. Identify the problems you can solve. You’ll be betting under better odds and as success begins to build, so will the payoff. You’ll begin to feel even more in control.

Success builds on success. 

And that sure beats facing off against those brick walls we let ourselves try to bust through.

You’ve got this!

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