Control is like water. If you hold on too tightly, it will slip right through your fingers.
There are many reasons why we choose to hold on tightly to things we can’t control. Fear of the unknown, fear of being judged, or a multitude of other reasons. If we live our lives based on the things we control, we lose what gives life color. When control and fear walk hand in hand, we are unlikely to live the life we want and deserve to live.
And don’t get me wrong, it is so hard to step out of our comfort zone, but I would rather live outside my comfort zone if it means giving life flavor. We must be willing to do things that scare us to grow. If a person wants to go skydiving but is afraid of the plane, they must choose to get on the plane or miss the opportunity to jump. While it is safe, it's not quite living the life they want.
When we let fear win, we are giving away our control to the fear. In skydiving, in life and love, is fear how we want to be guided? If we blame every bad experience on the people and experiences that lie before us, we can’t grow. Bad experiences are made to help us grow and then stay behind us. Sometimes, experiences require a lot of healing, but again, we have to let go of our control of the comfort we hide away in, because healing is not comfortable. Trust is not comfortable. You need to trust the parachute; you need to trust the people you surround yourself with. And sometimes a new person is as trustworthy as the people already existing in your life, but discernment is needed to know the difference, not allowing the fear to blind you to what’s in front of you.
So, what is the solution? Sobriety. Not necessarily sobriety from alcohol or substances (though they do cloud judgement). Sobriety in thought and observation. Sometimes something is exactly what it claims to be and sometimes it’s not. That clear thinking sobriety allows in makes all the difference in knowing what belongs and what doesn’t. Sober thinking will allow you to decide whether or not skydiving is actually something you could do or a dream that should stay a dream.
