You can’t always control the outcome

You can set your intentions, you can write out your goals, and you can envision the sort of results you’d like to achieve — but you can’t always control the outcome itself.

You rarely have 100% control over any outcome in your life.

You might have a manager who has final say on your projects, you may have clients who choose to go against your best advice, or you may have kids who exert more control over your personal calendar than you do.

Even if you were single, care-free, independently wealthy, and just landed your private jet in Hawaii to enjoy a sunny day on the beach — your desired outcome could be affected by a hurricane blowing through the region.

I’m not saying these things to depress you, I’m pointing out your lack of control in order to get you thinking about the things you can control.

Have you ever gone skiing?

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but skis do not have handlebars or a steering wheel — yet people still manage to get where they are going (achieve their goal) while speeding down the side of a mountain with what appears to be very little control over the slippery slats strapped to their feet.

Cars are easier to control.
You’ve got a gas pedal to speed up, a brake to slow down, and a steering wheel to turn the vehicle in the direction you want to go. It’s a much simpler way to control the outcome using this mode of transportation than if you were sliding down a hillside at 40 miles per hour on skis.

When you’re feeling like things are out of your control, think about skiiing.
When you start down the hill on a pair skis you’re able to begin going in the direction of your destination, but then you might hit a bump in the snow or need to go around another skier which requires you to adjust your course.

Your ability to maintain a course toward your goal is reliant upon your willingness to lean in the direction of your desired destination. You can’t rotate a steering wheel and you can’t turn any handlebars, but you can show confidence and belief in achieving the goals you set and the outcome you wanted by continuing to lean forward and lean back and lean left and lean right (sometimes seemingly leaning in the wrong direction) in order to keep yourself on target for the results you want to reach.

Ultimately, complete control may be out of your hands — but if you keep your wits about you and your goals firmly fixed in your mind, you can absolutely influence the outcome in your favor.