“Why worry about things you can’t control when you can keep yourself busy controlling the things that depend on you?” ~Unknown

People will do all sorts of irrational things to maintain the illusion of control.

Take jobs they don’t want to feel as though the future’s secure and certain. Push people they love away to prevent themselves from getting hurt. Dwell on stressful situations–creating even more stress–as if they can over-analyze their pain away.

The irony in all this grappling is that it often leaves you feeling even more vulnerable and powerless than you did to begin with.

Studies suggest that people need to feel in control on some level to be happy. Which begs the question: why not choose to focus on things you can actually control? Your day-to-day life involves a host of small choices that make a huge difference in the world you experience–meaning you have far more control than you realize.

Today’s post, 50 Things You Can Control Right Now, will give you some ideas to get started.