Radio Headspace Anxiety and Control: Why Micromanaging Doesn’t Work (and What Does)
Sep 25, 2025
Anxiety often masquerades as the need for control, but gripping tightly can actually make us feel more fragile. Sharing her personal journey, Rosie reveals how overpreparing for events is a trap that limits freedom. Letting go, even a little, allows for presence and resilience. She introduces a mindfulness technique that encourages flexibility, urging listeners to embrace uncertainty. Finally, choosing to respond intentionally rather than following rigid plans can lead to unexpectedly positive experiences.
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Control Feels Like Safety But Isn’t
- Anxiety can masquerade as a need for control that feels like safety.
- Rosie says control only creates an illusion of safety because something can always go wrong.
Workshop Obsession That Revealed Gripping
- Rosie recounts obsessing over a workshop's tiniest details despite prior experience.
- Tori pointed out the spiral, revealing Rosie was gripping control to prevent imagined failure.
Tighter Grip, More Fragile
- Gripping tight increases fragility rather than resilience.
- Rosie contrasts lists and over-scheduling with learning to surf life’s waves instead of trying to stop them.