I s your life out of control? Does your list of things to do remind you of a scarf that a magician pulls out of his sleeve, more and more and more material billowing out with every tug, as if it will never end? Do you feel that you can't accomplish much because you are always redirected, misdirected, or squelched by somebody with greater authority? Are you afraid that even if you did try to accomplish something it wouldn't work, because everything you do is wrong?

The problem is not that you have lost control over your life, but rather that you simply think that you have lost control. Of course, there may be a boss or relative standing in the way of some specific goal of yours, or you may truly be facing an intimidating number of tasks. Although you cannot change other people (and probably cannot fully change a situation that makes your schedule burdensome), you can certainly change your perception of these things. By changing your perception you can gain the strength and the focus to work around these obstacles and finally get something done.

[chapter continues...]