I want to share a story with you. I’m out of work, the coronavirus pandemic is still raging in parts of the US, and my wife and I are trying to figure out what to do about our kids going to school in the fall. We have to make a decision about our kids and schools within 7 days.

I’m worried, stressed, and trying to figure out how to land work to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads.

I know that there are many people out there who are struggling and have problems so much worse than my situation.

What am I to do?

I woke up at 5 a.m. today to write and finish two books. I’m networking, applying for jobs, working with recruiters, and reaching out to volunteer to help others.

One of the things that I want to share with you is hope.

When I look back at my life, I see that when I work so hard to try to make something happen, that things never go my way. Instead, when I work on myself, show up each day, and trust that events will work themselves out. I cannot see what tomorrow will bring, but I can choose to get up and do the work I need to do today.

Part of that is something that’s simple: Be open.

Be open to new opportunities and be willing to go beyond what you normally would.

Growing up in an alcoholic/dysfunctional family means that I have to be aware of triggering items. When I feel like I don’t have control of my life, my instinct is to clench down and try to make things go my way. That never works.

If there is any message of hope that I can share with you, it’s simply this: Let go and allow yourself the freedom to just be. I know that might sound counterintuitive, but the more that I’ve tried to control things in my life, the more I fail.

Time to let go.

Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.