I get great satisfaction by completing jobs that I have some control over. For example, when I garden, I have some control over the design, what I plant, and how I prune my small plot of land. There is great satisfaction in this work. Yet, there's great frustration in areas of life that I have little control over--those areas of life that present you with a different scenario regularly, and those areas of life that constantly challenge the best of you.
What do you do when you have little control?
As I approach one of those uncontrollable jobs today, I thought about this dilemma. My natural instinct is to create some parameters that give me some control--parameters such as a routine, identifying jobs I can do within the constantly changing nature of this situation, and simply doing what I can and not worrying about what I can't do. Yet, the uncontrollable situation in many ways seems like a big, unpredictable storm--what will happen, how will I react, what's the best way to react to the impending confusion?
Day by day
Rather than attempting to predict or work for a long term goal, it seems that when facing uncontrollable situations, you have to take it day by day. Every day is a new day in situations like this, and rather than working towards a good goal, you have to respond to each day's challenge with your best self including good values, speak, and efforts.
Few to no expectations
In the uncharted waters such as uncontrollable situations, you have to put aside your expectations as those expectations will mostly frustrate you. Instead take the situation as it comes, and respond accordingly.
Uncontrollable situations challenge the best of us. They call you to strengthen your character traits to do what you can daily. Onward.