Are You Prepared or Controlling?

Because there's a difference.

To be prepared is to be organized, equipped, and ready for the __________. To be prepared is to hold appropriate expectations for the mission at hand, the vision ahead, and the potential for what could be. Or what might not be.

Controlling on the other hand is to hold in check, dominate, or command.

See, control isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's necessary to form a healthy lifestyle. Just look at it from the negative - we control our cravings or our cravings will control us. We control our thoughts or our thoughts will eat us alive. We control our work ethic or the lack of it will control us. See what I mean? And that type of control takes preparation, just like it does with our diet and exercise routines, relationships and faith, entertainment habits and work schedules, etc.

Control goes astray when we fail to allow breathing room for the unexpected. Or when our preparation demands a single outcome. Or when another personality, preparing their own journey, head-butts our own. Being prepared to respond to a given situation, obstacle, or opportunity takes self-control. And self-control demands preparation of the mind, heart, body, and spirit. But it also means we have to be prepared to let go.

Are you prepared or simply controlling?

Oh, and oftentimes we're controlling because we're not prepared! Chew on that little nugget.

I have faith that both wise preparation and humble control can work together for a healthy rhythm of life, even when the world is crumbling around or within us.

Q. How are you preparing for your daily tasks? Weekly projects? Quarterly goals? How are you preparing your family/work rhythm?

Q. What are you doing to foster a healthy means that will justify a healthy response to whatever the ends might be?