Working in recovery and working in prisons I get to see a lot of people who want to have control. People want control over other people, situations, addictions, the list is huge and this barely scratches the surface. We want it so badly that we adopt the illusion that we actually have it. We try to control so much that we have anxiety over the things we can’t control.

Step One is realizing that my life is out of control. Out of control, not under my own control. As much as we’d like to give ourselves credit for, we really can’t control anything. That’s why we need to take the entirety of the first 3 steps seriously: I can’t, someone else can, I pick Jesus! It sounds simple, but it requires a ton of diligence and focus to pull off. Letting go and letting God is a very tough proposition for most of us. Yet when we manage to do it, the results are fantastic. By relinquishing my desire to be in charge I also let go of a massive amount of anxiety.

Take a look at your own life right now. No, really, do a quick self-check. Do you feel like you are in control of anything? Are you stressed? Are you miserable? Are you anxious? It might be time to put it down and…

–Rise Up!!