In struggling with anxiety, we are often clinging to a fervent desire to impossibly maintain control. It may be the yearn for control within our futures, for the safety of our loved ones and related to judgements of others. Like striving to control the falling of rain, this drive to hold tight to that beyond our locus of influence is futile. No amount of thought will ever predict the future as it’s rich with interdependent complexities too diverse to fathom. We can no sooner anticipate the flight path of a broad-winged hawk dancing on thermals than our own journey through tomorrow. In the wild, we realize control is an illusion and the forceful struggle to resist inevitable change painfully limits our potential. It is when we release control and allow for wildness that we find ourselves. Through joining in our innate place within nature, we find the fortitude for acceptance that lies within us all. Today, I welcome you to relinquish control and be brave enough to let the wild in. The wild of the unknown and the uncertain. I invite you to sit against the trunk of a tree and let the leaves fall around you as they may. Accept the sounds meeting your ears. Allow the bird to land on a branch of its choosing. Celebrate their autonomy to be. Then, bring your awareness of what is actually within your control. No matter the stressors facing you, you may always choose to change your thoughts, deepen your breaths and hold hope for the future. Now, look for other ways you may give yourself choices in this moment. Be brave enough to let wild in. The wild of the unknown and the uncertain. You are strong enough to face whatever comes next.
Note: This article is not clinical counseling or psychotherapy and it is not intended to treat any mental-health condition. The commentary offered in this blog may not be appropriate for every person depending on their current needs and individual systems. Please consult a physician or mental-health clinician to seek care for your specific needs and goals. If you are experiencing a medical or behavioral health emergency, please immediately call 911 or present to emergency department, as soon as possible.