Is Control An Illusion?

I have been talking a lot lately on the blog about control. Between black swan and white swan events it is easy to feel at a total loss at times. Is control an illusion? As chronic and conservative risk mitigaters we do our best not to feel as if we are slaves to the unknown. But, in reality, only so much of life can be planned for. We simply don’t know what the next year or decade will bring, much less the next day.

This can be disconcerting. No matter how we plot and scheme, there is no bulletproof plan. Yet to say that we have no control is also misleading. We actually have quite a say in how we spend our moment to moment existence.

In fact, we actually are mostly master of our destinies.

Work

Setting up a panel discussion for a podcast is not easy. Trying to get six people to agree to a given time, organize the tech, and then orchestrate a conversation can be difficult. Inevitably something goes wrong. Even after only eight recordings, we have had a number of cancellations and reschedules. Especially when the panelists are still working a 9-5 job. They unexpectedly get pulled into another call or a meeting and then have to cancel at the last minute.

Is control and illusion? If you are stuck in the grind of W2 employment than you may believe so. But many of us are escaping the traditional bonds of employment. We are retiring early, building our own businesses, and taking advantage of the gig economy.

More than ever, we as a society are working remotely and taking greater control of our time. It doesn’t mean that sacrifice is not necessary. But that sacrifice is controllable and modifiable. We are much more likely able to weigh the tradeoffs and make a decision based on our unique needs.

Finances

Although many feel like victims of their economic reality, it has become clear in this community that almost anyone can take control of their finances and create a better financial future than the lousy default that we used to accept. There are a number of levers just waiting to be pulled. Wages can be increased. Budgets can be modified and trimmed. And one can move to a lower cost of living neighborhood or even country.

Is control an illusion when it comes to finances? Resoundingly, we are doing our best to show that it is not. With careful earning, savings, and investing a much better financial future awaits the majority of us.

Relationships

The best things in life are free, and I am not talking about travel hacking. We ultimately have total control over who we choose to be, and who we associate with. While you can’t pick your family, you can definitely decide which of them to spend your time with.

You can choose friends who are kind and havre the same values as you. And even your own accomplishments are likely tied to the type of people you decide to surround yourself with.

Final Thoughts

It is easy in the personal finance community to spend time talking about all that can go wrong. With the likes of Suze Ormon screaming in our ear, we can become paranoid about all those risks lurking around the corner, and spend a huge amount of emotional energy on risk mitigation.

Yet, the truth is, that we have quite a bit of control of our work, finances, and relationships. Ultimately we have to decide what kind of people we are going to be.

Is control an illusion?

Not in my opinion.