You are in charge of you

It is hard to imagine that anyone would disagree that each of us is in charge of our own lives. Yet in a world full of opinions, some people will say that most things are out of their control.
Surely it is true that we do not control everything. Some of you who are gardeners want to control the rain to get your plants what they need, but we can’t control whether it will rain tomorrow. Others of you who love being outdoors would take in as much sun (some of you it’s snow) as you can get.
So many other things are out of our control. Like the cost of eggs. I made a special stop on my way home to get the $4.99 one dozen limit at a local store. Otherwise, I would pay $8.79 at the grocery store nearest my home. Yesterday, they had no eggs! Despite my best effort, I was met with a circumstance outside of my control.
So, what can we control and how do we go about controlling it? I think it can start with making a list. Then sort the list into columns. Here is an example.
Item or Activity My Perspective Is that true? What can I do about it?
What time I get to bed I want to be up by 6:30 AM. Since I have so much to do, I won’t be getting to bed before 10:30 PM Probably not true. I could make a general plan about what needs to be done and try to spread it out, so it doesn’t pile up
OR
Maybe set a timer on my phone to remind me when its 10PM
Having a healthy snack in the afternoon It is easier to eat the crackers I keep in the office than remember to bring a pear Probably not true. I can put a note on the top of my purse to grab the pear before I leave for work.

I’m sure if I kept going, I could list a whole lot of items or intentions. I could then list my beliefs about those items or intentions. Many I could do something about, others not so much. Then there are still others that if I set myself up to succeed, I would succeed.
All this comes down to mindset evaluation and the ability to form new habits. We can make it easier to form new habits. Here are some suggested steps.

How to Create a Good Habit My Plan for Developing a Habit of Healthier Eating
The 1st law (Cue) Make it obvious. Plan out what I want to eat the day before
The 2nd law (Craving) Make it attractive. I love pears so they are a good choice
The 3rd law (Response) Make it easy. Put a note on my purse
The 4th law (Reward) Make it satisfying. I am going to manage my weight and may even achieve some weight loss

I know there will be days when, despite my best effort, my plan might not work. This does not mean I should not try. Habits become easier with consistency, time, and success. My goal is to make this habit something that will succeed more often than not.
My grandmother saw me in my teenage years as a passionate justice advocate who wanted to change the world. She gave me a prayer that contained this idea for developing habits. She thought it would be good for me to figure out the difference between what I could control and what I couldn’t. Then, she thought I could make a successful plan. Smart woman, my Gran.
Here are some resources you might enjoy.
ATOMIC HABITS – Tiny Changes that Create Remarkable Results – James Clear
Atomic Habits: How to Get 1% Better Every Day – James Clear
Making health habitual: the psychology of ‘habit-formation’ and general practice – PMC
FYI – It has been three weeks since I implemented the pear idea and I have successfully avoided eating those crackers, and I lost three pounds.