November 12, 2024 • 13 mins
What if you could transform adversity into opportunity with a simple shift in mindset? That's the promise we explore as we embrace the empowering philosophy of "controlling the controllables." Join me, Erica Porter, on Endorphasmic, as we navigate the art of focusing our energy on what we can change and influence, leaving behind the stress of external factors beyond our reach. This episode is your guide to cultivating resilience, autonomy, and growth by owning your reactions, choices, and intentions. Through setting clear goals and building consistency, we unlock the potential for a more satisfying and peaceful life.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Endorphasmic, where we talk
about all things.
Endorphasm.
I am your hostess, erica Porter.
I talk about this so much and Italk about it because I'm
constantly having thisconversation with people.
It's the power of controllingthe controllables.
(00:20):
And in life, there's onetimeless principle that empowers
us to achieve resilience,excellence and, I believe, peace
of mind, and that iscontrolling the controllables.
This mindset means focusingyour energy on what you can
change and influence, whileletting go of what you cannot,
(00:41):
and by doing so you regaincontrol over your life.
You cannot, and by doing so youregain control over your life,
feel more grounded and takecommand of your future.
So let's just explore how thispowerful philosophy applies
across different areas.
So sports and performance Insportses thrive when they focus
(01:05):
on controllables like their owneffort, attitude and strategy,
instead of external factors likeweather, crowd, noise or the
actions of their opponents.
Embracing this mindset buildsmental resilience and helps
athletes perform at their peak,unaffected by the uncontrollable
(01:27):
distractions that oftenunsettle others, and the same
principle applies to anyperformance under pressure.
Directing attention to what youcan influence brings clarity
and it brings focus.
And in our everyday life, indaily life, controlling the
(01:49):
controllables involves owningyour reactions, owning your
choices and your intentions.
It means deciding how you spendyour time, managing your energy
and building meaningfulrelationships all things that
(02:10):
are within your power.
When you take ownership ofthese elements, you'll notice a
remarkable decrease in stressand an increase in overall
satisfaction of your life, ofyourself, of being able to look
at yourself in the mirror and belike hell yeah, I got this.
(02:32):
And that approach helps youbecome more intentional,
deliberate and productive as youpursue whatever your goals
might be.
As you pursue whatever yourgoals might be, the science
(02:53):
behind the power.
Research shows that humansthrive when we feel competent,
when we feel connected and incontrol of our environments.
It doesn't matter the person.
That's.
Science, Focusing on what wecan control feeds our need for
autonomy, which in turn boostsintrinsic motivation.
(03:16):
And by consciously applyingcontrolling the controllables,
we make choices aligned with ourvalues, creating a
self-sustaining cycle ofmotivation, resilience and
growth.
And there are steps tocontrolling the controllables
right.
You have to define your goals,write them down specific goals,
(03:40):
such as improving fitness for amarathon or enhancing a child's
learning, whatever it is.
Define your goals, thenidentify controllables versus
uncontrollables.
Create whether it's a chart,whether it's kind of like a
to-do list type of thing.
Create a chart so that you candistinguish between elements you
(04:04):
can control right your training, your effort, your environment
and those that you can't weatherothers' opinions, whatever it
might be and then focus on youractions.
For each goal, you have todevelop actionable strategies
that direct your energy towardthe controllables, and then you
(04:26):
have to build consistency,repeat this process regularly to
stay in control and proactive,moving forward with confidence.
Right, I talk about care,consistent and repeated effort.
That is what creates change,that is what keeps us aligned.
(04:48):
Consistent and repeated effort,no matter what it is.
That applies with everything,that applies to parenting, that
applies to relationships, thatapplies to self-care all of that
.
Why does controlling thecontrollables change everything?
When we waste energy on thingsthat are beyond our influence,
(05:13):
we often feel defeated andstressed and powerless, and
focusing on uncontrollablespulls us in a reactive mindset,
which diminishes our energy andshrinks our circle of influence
our own personal influence overour life, our choices, our
(05:35):
situation, all of it.
You have to be proactive inyour own growth and influence
and create positive change byfocusing on what you can impact.
I talk about this too, which iscontrolling the controllables.
(05:58):
By the way, there are two kindsof people that show up in the
world, those that allow theworld to impact them, right?
Those that have either beendiagnosed with something or, you
know, they've been let go of ajob, whatever it is right.
It's all about how the worldimpacts them.
They are the victim ofeverything that happens in their
(06:20):
life, right?
Not taking personalaccountability or responsibility
for anything.
And then there's the individualthat chooses, chooses Again,
it's all choice to impact theworld, no matter what is thrown
at them.
They control theircontrollables.
(06:40):
And choosing to control yourcontrollables, you give, or
rather, it gives you the powerto create, to achieve and to
shape your life, even inchallenging times.
Even when the world is tryingto impact you, it transforms
(07:01):
adversity into opportunity andturns effort into progress,
ultimately bringing a sense ofpeace and satisfaction that
external circumstances cannottake away.
You can control your work ethic,your effort, persistence and
(07:25):
commitment.
They are entirely within yourcontrol.
And by dedicating yourself toexcellence and refusing to
settle for good enough, you I'mputting that like in quotes, in
little air quotes, you can't seeme.
When you do that, you raiseyour standards and potential.
(07:45):
Your work ethic becomes thebedrock of everything you
achieve and it reflects yourinner drive and dedication.
This is like my mantra that Isay to my son how you do
anything is how you doeverything.
How you do anything is how youdo everything.
(08:07):
So you have your work ethic,seizing opportunities Every
opportunity, no matter how small, is a chance to showcase your
abilities and take a steptowards your goals.
By preparing meticulously andmaking the most of each
(08:28):
opportunity, you open doors toeven greater possibilities.
Self-improvement Regardless ofthe obstacles, you can always
work on becoming a betterversion of yourself.
Whether it's honing your skills, improving your health or
expanding your knowledge,self-improvement is entirely
(08:52):
within your grasp.
That is the endorphasm mindset.
That is why I started theEndorphasmic podcast.
It is why I opened the Red Room, why it's called endorphasm
opened the red room, why it'scalled endorphasm?
(09:13):
That self-improvement, thatability to connect with yourself
, to get comfortablyuncomfortable.
It transcends not only allphysical pursuits, but it
transcends all pursuits, yourattitude.
Circumstances may be out ofyour control, but your attitude
(09:34):
is not.
By choosing to see setbacks aslearning experiences and
challenges as opportunities forgrowth, you remain resilient and
focused.
You remain resilient andfocused.
The last.
I forget who said this, thelast.
(09:54):
I probably should have lookedit up, but of course I didn't.
Sometimes I just I talk and Idon't always know what I'm going
to say.
The last of human freedoms isto choose one's attitude in any
given set of circumstances.
(10:15):
I'm going to look it upactually.
Well, I'll look it up, I'll putit in my thing.
So the last of human freedomsis to choose one's attitude in
any given set of circumstances.
Integrity no one can take awayyour integrity.
(10:35):
It's yours alone.
Living with honesty, treatingothers with respect and staying
true to your values buildsunshakable character In a world
full of uncertainty.
Integrity is your constantempowering you to act
confidently and stay grounded.
How you do anything is how youdo everything.
(10:58):
That is integrity.
You have to be proud of whatyou do.
If you half-ass one thing,chances are you're going to
half-ass a lot of things.
I tell people when they'reworking out, when they're doing
yoga, whatever it is, yourreaction to that environment, to
the moment, is typically yourreaction in life.
(11:21):
You fall out of a pose, you getall upset.
That is a reaction we typicallyhave when anything doesn't go
our way.
Let it go.
You fall out of a position oryou can't get a move.
You do a different one, or youget back into the pose, whatever
it is.
How you do anything is how youdo everything, and that brings
(11:45):
me to the freedom of letting go.
By letting go of theuncontrollables and embracing
what you can command, you setyourself free from unnecessary
stress, frustration andself-doubt.
When you direct your energytoward what you can impact, you
(12:06):
create a positive feedback loop,transforming each day into a
series of intentional, powerfulactions.
And this approach gives you thefreedom to live proactively and
to pursue your goals fearlesslyand ultimately shape a life, I
believe, of fulfillment andsuccess.
(12:26):
And listen, this doesn't meanthat every day is fucking
amazing.
It doesn't mean that shitdoesn't go wrong.
It doesn't mean that some daysyou don't feel bad, but it
allows you right.
That's part of ownership of howyou feel.
Live your life with intention,control your controllables.
(12:52):
I'm probably going to talkabout this a million and one
times more.
So with that love, health andhappiness, and always much
respect.
Welcome to Endorphasmic, where we talk
about all things.
Endorphasm.
I am your hostess, erica Porter.
I talk about this so much and Italk about it because I'm
constantly having thisconversation with people.
It's the power of controllingthe controllables.
(00:20):
And in life, there's onetimeless principle that empowers
us to achieve resilience,excellence and, I believe, peace
of mind, and that iscontrolling the controllables.
This mindset means focusingyour energy on what you can
change and influence, whileletting go of what you cannot,
(00:41):
and by doing so you regaincontrol over your life.
You cannot, and by doing so youregain control over your life,
feel more grounded and takecommand of your future.
So let's just explore how thispowerful philosophy applies
across different areas.
So sports and performance Insportses thrive when they focus
(01:05):
on controllables like their owneffort, attitude and strategy,
instead of external factors likeweather, crowd, noise or the
actions of their opponents.
Embracing this mindset buildsmental resilience and helps
athletes perform at their peak,unaffected by the uncontrollable
(01:27):
distractions that oftenunsettle others, and the same
principle applies to anyperformance under pressure.
Directing attention to what youcan influence brings clarity
and it brings focus.
And in our everyday life, indaily life, controlling the
(01:49):
controllables involves owningyour reactions, owning your
choices and your intentions.
It means deciding how you spendyour time, managing your energy
and building meaningfulrelationships all things that
(02:10):
are within your power.
When you take ownership ofthese elements, you'll notice a
remarkable decrease in stressand an increase in overall
satisfaction of your life, ofyourself, of being able to look
at yourself in the mirror and belike hell yeah, I got this.
(02:32):
And that approach helps youbecome more intentional,
deliberate and productive as youpursue whatever your goals
might be.
As you pursue whatever yourgoals might be, the science
(02:53):
behind the power.
Research shows that humansthrive when we feel competent,
when we feel connected and incontrol of our environments.
It doesn't matter the person.
That's.
Science, Focusing on what wecan control feeds our need for
autonomy, which in turn boostsintrinsic motivation.
(03:16):
And by consciously applyingcontrolling the controllables,
we make choices aligned with ourvalues, creating a
self-sustaining cycle ofmotivation, resilience and
growth.
And there are steps tocontrolling the controllables
right.
You have to define your goals,write them down specific goals,
(03:40):
such as improving fitness for amarathon or enhancing a child's
learning, whatever it is.
Define your goals, thenidentify controllables versus
uncontrollables.
Create whether it's a chart,whether it's kind of like a
to-do list type of thing.
Create a chart so that you candistinguish between elements you
(04:04):
can control right your training, your effort, your environment
and those that you can't weatherothers' opinions, whatever it
might be and then focus on youractions.
For each goal, you have todevelop actionable strategies
that direct your energy towardthe controllables, and then you
(04:26):
have to build consistency,repeat this process regularly to
stay in control and proactive,moving forward with confidence.
Right, I talk about care,consistent and repeated effort.
That is what creates change,that is what keeps us aligned.
(04:48):
Consistent and repeated effort,no matter what it is.
That applies with everything,that applies to parenting, that
applies to relationships, thatapplies to self-care all of that
.
Why does controlling thecontrollables change everything?
When we waste energy on thingsthat are beyond our influence,
(05:13):
we often feel defeated andstressed and powerless, and
focusing on uncontrollablespulls us in a reactive mindset,
which diminishes our energy andshrinks our circle of influence
our own personal influence overour life, our choices, our
(05:35):
situation, all of it.
You have to be proactive inyour own growth and influence
and create positive change byfocusing on what you can impact.
I talk about this too, which iscontrolling the controllables.
(05:58):
By the way, there are two kindsof people that show up in the
world, those that allow theworld to impact them, right?
Those that have either beendiagnosed with something or, you
know, they've been let go of ajob, whatever it is right.
It's all about how the worldimpacts them.
They are the victim ofeverything that happens in their
(06:20):
life, right?
Not taking personalaccountability or responsibility
for anything.
And then there's the individualthat chooses, chooses Again,
it's all choice to impact theworld, no matter what is thrown
at them.
They control theircontrollables.
(06:40):
And choosing to control yourcontrollables, you give, or
rather, it gives you the powerto create, to achieve and to
shape your life, even inchallenging times.
Even when the world is tryingto impact you, it transforms
(07:01):
adversity into opportunity andturns effort into progress,
ultimately bringing a sense ofpeace and satisfaction that
external circumstances cannottake away.
You can control your work ethic,your effort, persistence and
(07:25):
commitment.
They are entirely within yourcontrol.
And by dedicating yourself toexcellence and refusing to
settle for good enough, you I'mputting that like in quotes, in
little air quotes, you can't seeme.
When you do that, you raiseyour standards and potential.
(07:45):
Your work ethic becomes thebedrock of everything you
achieve and it reflects yourinner drive and dedication.
This is like my mantra that Isay to my son how you do
anything is how you doeverything.
How you do anything is how youdo everything.
(08:07):
So you have your work ethic,seizing opportunities Every
opportunity, no matter how small, is a chance to showcase your
abilities and take a steptowards your goals.
By preparing meticulously andmaking the most of each
(08:28):
opportunity, you open doors toeven greater possibilities.
Self-improvement Regardless ofthe obstacles, you can always
work on becoming a betterversion of yourself.
Whether it's honing your skills, improving your health or
expanding your knowledge,self-improvement is entirely
(08:52):
within your grasp.
That is the endorphasm mindset.
That is why I started theEndorphasmic podcast.
It is why I opened the Red Room, why it's called endorphasm
opened the red room, why it'scalled endorphasm?
(09:13):
That self-improvement, thatability to connect with yourself
, to get comfortablyuncomfortable.
It transcends not only allphysical pursuits, but it
transcends all pursuits, yourattitude.
Circumstances may be out ofyour control, but your attitude
(09:34):
is not.
By choosing to see setbacks aslearning experiences and
challenges as opportunities forgrowth, you remain resilient and
focused.
You remain resilient andfocused.
The last.
I forget who said this, thelast.
(09:54):
I probably should have lookedit up, but of course I didn't.
Sometimes I just I talk and Idon't always know what I'm going
to say.
The last of human freedoms isto choose one's attitude in any
given set of circumstances.
(10:15):
I'm going to look it upactually.
Well, I'll look it up, I'll putit in my thing.
So the last of human freedomsis to choose one's attitude in
any given set of circumstances.
Integrity no one can take awayyour integrity.
(10:35):
It's yours alone.
Living with honesty, treatingothers with respect and staying
true to your values buildsunshakable character In a world
full of uncertainty.
Integrity is your constantempowering you to act
confidently and stay grounded.
How you do anything is how youdo everything.
(10:58):
That is integrity.
You have to be proud of whatyou do.
If you half-ass one thing,chances are you're going to
half-ass a lot of things.
I tell people when they'reworking out, when they're doing
yoga, whatever it is, yourreaction to that environment, to
the moment, is typically yourreaction in life.
(11:21):
You fall out of a pose, you getall upset.
That is a reaction we typicallyhave when anything doesn't go
our way.
Let it go.
You fall out of a position oryou can't get a move.
You do a different one, or youget back into the pose, whatever
it is.
How you do anything is how youdo everything, and that brings
(11:45):
me to the freedom of letting go.
By letting go of theuncontrollables and embracing
what you can command, you setyourself free from unnecessary
stress, frustration andself-doubt.
When you direct your energytoward what you can impact, you
(12:06):
create a positive feedback loop,transforming each day into a
series of intentional, powerfulactions.
And this approach gives you thefreedom to live proactively and
to pursue your goals fearlesslyand ultimately shape a life, I
believe, of fulfillment andsuccess.
(12:26):
And listen, this doesn't meanthat every day is fucking
amazing.
It doesn't mean that shitdoesn't go wrong.
It doesn't mean that some daysyou don't feel bad, but it
allows you right.
That's part of ownership of howyou feel.
Live your life with intention,control your controllables.
(12:52):
I'm probably going to talkabout this a million and one
times more.
So with that love, health andhappiness, and always much
respect.
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