Have you ever been called a control freak or something similar? If so, your behavior is probably impacting negatively on your important relationships; family, friends, and / or people you work with. Needing to be in control is also strongly aligned with anxiety.
As a control freak you get caught up in the problems and emotional experiences of those around you. However, the relationship you need to be paying attention to is the one you have with yourself.
♥ SIGNS OF A CONTROL FREAK
Your controlling behavior might be expressed overtly in a commanding, demanding or aggressive manner. However, if you are uncomfortable with confrontation your controlling behavior might be expressed indirectly. This subtle form of control is often described as passive-aggressive. Some examples include procrastination, complaints about being unappreciated, helplessness, victim-hood, and withholding.
Lets take a closer look at some of the behaviors and emotional experiences of a control freak:
Behavior
1. Constantly offering advice, even when it hasn’t been requested
2. Difficulty saying NO
3. Micromanaging your children, partner or staff at work
4. Trying to fix or rescue people from their problems or bad feelings
5. Changing yourself or your opinions to gain acceptance
6. Giving more than you receive in relationships
7. Speaking on behalf of your partner
8. Expecting other people know what you’re thinking
9. Lack of clear boundaries
Emotional Experience
10. Finding uncertainty difficult to tolerate
11. Experiencing anxiety when you don’t feel in control or feel disapproved of
12. Holding other people responsible for how you feel
13. Needing other peoples approval to feel happy
14. Feeling responsible for other people
15. Feeling burdened by other people’s problems
♥ WHAT YOU CAN DO
☑ Take responsibility for your own life and happiness. How you respond to life’s experiences and challenges is not dependent on what other people say, think or do. Your responses are entirely your choice.
☑ Learn to accept uncertainty. In reality there are very few certainties in life. Starting a mindfulness and gratitude practice will help you with this. Its about being fully present in your life.
☑ Practice self-compassion. It is very difficult to extend unconditional love and compassion towards other people if you judge yourself harshly. Self-compassion will open a whole new world to you and a new found freedom.
☑ Let go of expectations. Be more realistic about expectations you have for yourself, and family, friends and work mates. Learning to live in the present moment will help you with this.
☑ Learn how to speak honestly and directly. You will experience misunderstandings less often, and gain more respect from the people in your world when they don’t need to second guess you. Mean what you say, and say what you mean.
☑ Learn how to respond rather than react. Start noticing your patterns of reaction. What sensations do you experience in your body when you feel threatened? Does your throat tense up, your heart start racing, or maybe your shoulders hunch up towards your ears?
The simple practice of noticing gives you the opportunity to start choosing your response and begin to break reactive patterns.
If you want real control, drop the illusion of control; let life have you. It does anyway. ~ Byron Katie.
♥ ♥ ♥ When you let go of the need to control, you will gain more peace, experience personal growth, and enjoy a new found freedom. Its about taking responsibility for your choices and letting go of the drama. Its a little bit scary and very exciting.
