The Power of Letting Go of What You Can't Control "Life is too short. I can't control everything in my life. Trying to is exhausting!!" - member of MyCOPDTeam

When first faced with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis, a common fear is a lack of control over our health. How could our bodies betray us? How do we grab the reins back and fix the situation? Living with a chronic disease forces us to recognize what we can and cannot control.

Members on MyCOPDTeam have various strategies for letting go of control and fear, including:

1) using guided imagery to visualize letting go
2) opening up and trusting others
3) organizing or cleaning the house
4) reaching out for support from other members on MyCOPDTeam

Here are recent conversations from members on MyCOPDTeam

• "The ability to accept what is happening and let go of your original expectations is key when dealing with these unexpected turns of fate. We have a tendency to get stuck in our heads, clinging to an idea of how we think life should go, and we can have a hard time accepting anything that doesn't comply with that idea. The fact is that life is unpredictable."

• "My main suggestion is to concentrate on what you CAN do instead of on all the things that have to be let go."

• "You can't force something that isn't meant to be. Learning to let go, moving forward, growing internally and truly finding yourself again is one of the toughest things one might have to do. But it will be the most rewarding. As hard as something may seem right now, remember that pain is only temporary."

Have you had moments of letting go just when you needed it most? What helps you 'let go' of things out of your control? Share in the comments below or directly on MyCOPDTeam.com.