In an effort to prompt blog post writing, on days when nothing is springing to mind, I have started using a random word generator (here). This was just the first one that came up on Duckduckgo‘s search (I am no longer using Startpage as it was sold to an adtech company last October and that raises privacy concerns for me) and today’s random word was Control.
Control – my kneejerk reaction is to loudly proclaim that we have none, it doesn’t really exist. As humans we need the idea of control, that we have some say over what happens to us, but think deeply enough about it and it becomes clear that it is mostly illusion.
But that feels like a cop-out.
As a Stoic I know that I have no control over outside events…I can’t stop my friends from abandoning me or my body from aging, but I DO have control over one rather important thing…my mind.
Plenty has been written about controlling your thoughts, the foundations of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are those very things, but for me control of my mind is less about stopping the intrusive and upsetting thoughts and more about allowing for different perspectives and new ideas I have not yet considered.
One of my most favourite mottos – an idea I try very hard to live by – is that we must admit the possibility that good things are just as likely to happen as bad ones. Controlling my thoughts and feelings about events become much easier when I admit that the worst case scenario is not necessarily the only outcome.
Wow, that was a lot of words for someone with nothing to blog about…
The Errant Moon 
“We must admit the possibility that good things are just as likely to happen as bad ones.” Logically, yes, but the mind rebels. Superstition? Self-protection? Evolution? After all, perky-eyed optimists may have become lion bait.
But when the possibility is that it’s all side-eye’ing pessimists, opened-eyed realists AND perky-eyed optimists becoming lion bait you may as well count the number of times you’ve actually ever seen a lion.
I know it isn’t easy, but one of the cool things about sentience is that you get to try on new thoughts, just for the giggles. If it looks as if you’re still gonna be lion food, ok, go back to your realism and RUN! But if a good outcome happens instead it might be worth admitting some different perspectives in your brain every now and again 🙂
I tried the random word generator but it only ever shows me the word “bumhole”. I generated five words at once and got five “bumholes”. I’m beginning to doubt the randomness of it. Thank you for your article though.
I think it is the universe telling you something…(that there is no such thing as random).