Laissez-faire

Want less stress in your life? Learn to care less.

I imagine, them’s fighting words for some. And definitely easier said than done but, oh, so worth it. Developing a bit of a “meh” attitude about some things can really go a long way to relieving stress.

Let’s be honest here, we often fuss about things out of our control and unimportant, in the grand scheme of things – your neighbour who leaves his Christmas lights up until June, the driver who cuts in front of you then flips you off when you honk, worrying about what others will think if you wear shorts to go grocery shopping or flashing back to that math exam you failed in high school.

For most of us, as moms, teens are probably the biggest source of stressing about things that a) we have little or no control over and b) are probably going to turn out just fine in the end. Remember way back when, when you were stressing about Junior not being potty-trained by the time he was 2 and a half.  Did some knowing mother not smile and say to you, “Don’t worry, Dear. It’ll happen when it happens. Think about it, when was the last time you saw a kindergartener in diapers?”

What good does your worrying really do about what universities he should apply to or what he’s going to do with the rest of his life? Wouldn’t it be better to trust that he can make his own decisions and things will work out in the end? I know it’s not always possible or always right, but sometimes it can be a good thing. And yes, I know, we’re hard-wired to care, nurture, etc., but teens are hard-wired to separate themselves from their parents. They have to become individuals. They’re driven to grow up. It’s a bit of a dichotomy, isn’t it?

This is not a suggestion that you care not at all about anything. It’s more of a pick your battles kind of thing. A little worrying is good. I think the French cornered the market with the  “laissez-faire” attitude – letting things take their own course, not interfering, not being bothered by certain things. Live and let live.

And the best part of all? Less stress means more time for you. Fill the gaps with things you love. Isn’t there a hammock somewhere with your name on it?

 Time to spill the beans. What do you worry and fuss about that maybe you could let go of? Have you learned to ‘live and let live’ about some things? Share you stories in the comments below.

Photo credit: melodramababs via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND