The Master Addiction
I was listening to the Tim Ferriss Show a while back, and David Allen, who’s most known for his book Getting Things Done, said something that lodged itself in my head: “Control is the master addiction.”
It hit me because I’ve always been drawn to systems, routines, and strategies for taming the chaos. But the more I’ve tried to “control” everything in my life, the more I came to realize it’s often just fear in disguise.
Allen also said, “We teach what we most need to learn.” Another one that hit me deep. I’ve spent years helping others organize projects, clarify goals, and make creative ideas happen, all while struggling to apply the same discipline to my own life.
I think (hope?) I’ve learned in the past handful of years that the real lesson isn’t in perfecting the system, but in loosening my grip. Letting the current carry me sometimes. Trusting that I can handle what’s around the bend instead of trying to engineer the river itself.