Finding Your Anchor: Focusing on What You Can and Can't Control

Finding Your Anchor

Life has a way of throwing us into choppy waters. A sudden change at work, an unexpected bill, or difficult news can leave us feeling powerless and adrift. In these moments, it’s easy to get swept up in the current of worry and anxiety, trying to control every ripple and wave. But what if the key to staying afloat isn't about controlling the sea, but about finding your own anchor?

This month, we're focusing on a simple yet profound truth: true peace comes from understanding and accepting the difference between what you can control and what you can't.

Our minds often trick us into believing we have more control than we do. We replay conversations, trying to find a better way we could have responded. We worry about future outcomes that are completely out of our hands. This constant striving for control over uncontrollable things is a fast track to burnout and mental exhaustion.

The weather, other people's opinions, past events, the economy—these are all things that exist outside the sphere of our influence. Spending our energy here is like trying to hold back the tide with our bare hands. It's a futile effort that leaves us feeling drained and defeated.

What You Can Control: Your Anchor

So, what can you control? The answer is both simple and powerful: you can control your own actions, reactions, and focus. This is your anchor. It’s the solid ground you can stand on when the world feels chaotic. Here are a few things that are always within your power:

• Your effort: You can't control the outcome of a project, but you can control the effort you put into it.

• Your boundaries: You can't control how others treat you, but you can control the boundaries you set to protect your peace.

• Your self-care: You can't control the stressors life throws at you, but you can control how you care for yourself in response.

• Your perspective: You can't control what happens, but you can control how you choose to see it.

Shifting your focus to these areas is not an act of resignation; it's an act of empowerment. It's about directing your energy where it can actually make a difference.

A Ritual for Releasing

This month, Ritualistic Nurtur is designed to help you physically and mentally release what you can't control.

The Ritual:

1. Acknowledge and Write It Down: Find a quiet space. On a piece of paper or in your journal, write down everything that is currently causing you stress or anxiety. Don’t filter yourself.

2. Separate and Identify: Go through the list and, for each item, ask yourself: “Is this within my control?” Draw a line down the middle of the paper. On one side, rewrite the things you can control (your actions, your attitude). On the other side, list the things you cannot control.

3. Physical Release: Take a moment to look at the list of things you cannot control. Take a deep breath and, as you exhale, let go of the tension associated with each item. Now, take that side of the paper, rip it up, and throw it away.

4. Embrace Your Anchor: With a clear mind, look at the list of what you can control. Choose one small, actionable step you can take today to move forward with purpose.

Our handcrafted products can be a wonderful part of this ritual. As you wash your hands with our soothing soap, visualize the water washing away the worries you’ve just released.

By consistently returning to your anchor—your actions, reactions, and focus—you’ll find that even in the stormiest seas, you can navigate with a sense of calm and purpose.

What’s one thing you will choose to let go of this week, and what's one thing you will focus your energy on instead?

Feel free to leave a comment.