The Cadence of Control: The Lifecycle of Why We Cling

The quest for control often takes center stage in the theaters of our day-to-day life. Our modern world praises the visionary, the planner, the one who holds the chessboard of life with a resolute grip, mapped out with four and five-year plans. And yet, there's a truth that we all sense deep within us – the more tightly we hold, the less we seem to grow. This paradox is s the undercurrent of many of our missed opportunities and stalled journeys. Today, we're unlocking the potential of your personal and professional growth by exploring the powerful art of relinquishing control through the Cadence of Control framework, which takes us through the lifecycle of how control manifests in our lives.

The Routine: Identifying our Routines and Their Origins

Our routines are often a well-worn groove based on past habits and our current mindset. They're often triggered by feelings of burnout, perfectionism, or imposter syndrome. Identifying our reactions and understanding their origins is the first step toward loosening our grip on control. Instead of automatically responding based on our past habits, we can consciously choose how we react to situations.

The Relinquishing: Finding a Reason for Change

Change is often driven by a circumstance outside of our hands or an internal drive that we know our current behavior is no longer sustainable. This recognition provides a strong reason for change, pushing us to reevaluate our habits and behaviors. It's the spark that ignites the process of letting go of control.

The Retraining: Changing Our Reaction Patterns

Once we've identified our reactions and found a reason for change, the next step is retraining. This phase involves loosening our grip on control and studying our emotions, as Brené Brown says, "like a scientist." It's about altering our previous reactions and replacing them with healthier, more productive responses.

The Redemption: Finding Our New Path Forward

The final R, redemption, is about finding a new path forward. It involves acknowledging that what got us here won't get us there. It's about responding from a place of power toward our perfectionism, rather than being at the mercy of our expected behaviors. This is the point where we truly let go of control and embrace the freedom of our next steps.