Acquiring a Sense of Control . . .

A sense of control does not mean that we in essence control everything around us–other people, and all situations and circumstances, both good and bad. People who try to do this are at a higher risk of illness, not a reduced risk.

Bad situations and circumstances are foreseeable in life. Although many cannot be controlled, it is possible, even under extreme conditions, not only to survive but to retain a sense of health and well-being.

One key is through what we do cognitively (what decisions we make) and what values we place on the "bad" things around us. We often cannot control reality, but we can learn to control how we react to it.

This inner control seems to come easier for those who have strong faith, a faith in their own God-given coping skills, and in those special places from which they draw strength, such as people they love and trust. This inner control may be enhanced by sense of stability and connectedness. This comes from a belief in certain central, valued, and enduring elements of life experiences.

People who feel no control in their lives often have little sense of purpose, meaning, or their own capabilities. Hopelessness and depression, in turn, will leave us vulnerable to illness.

A healthy life, then, is related to attitude and how a person chooses to look at things. It is all about the way we think, about seizing control of our own thoughts and attitudes.