Dr. Raquel Garzon: The Dueling Dimensions of Control
Study after study has demonstrated the importance of control in mitigating levels of stress. Having a strong internal locus of control typically correlates with a person having low levels of stress. Yet some people get obsessed with control and for them it’s just as important to let go of what they can’t control. I used to explain this by saying: You can’t control the weather on your daughter’s wedding day, but you CAN rent a tent. Control what you can and let go of what you can’t.
I’ve met a lot of experts over the years and it’s always interesting to see where they fall on this control continuum. The ones who fall into the category of needing to control every last detail (aka, micromanage) are always difficult to work with. The ones who are willing to let go of what they can’t control, are of course much easier to work with and usually the most authentic too. One expert I always enjoy working with is Dr. Raquel Garzon. She truly gets this aspect of control.
Click on the picture to watch a short video with Dr. Garzon on Self Soothing.
A behavioral change specialist and author of the book, “The Business of You” Dr. Garzon is always looking to control what she can control and letting go of what she can’t. When the Pandemic hit, she switched her business model from doing seminars in person to doing webinars over Zoom. “I learned all the new features on Zoom in order to make my programs more interactive, and I was doing more presentations than ever. My business thrived during the pandemic, and I had more time to spend with my family since I wasn’t traveling all the time.”
If you’ve ever seen Dr. Garzon put on a presentation, you are immediately struck by how much energy and enthusiasm she puts into each program. Yet Dr. Garzon suffers from a crippling genetic connective tissue disorder, that leaves many people bedridden for weeks on end.
Dr. Garzon once explained to me how she manages to maintain such a busy schedule and have so much energy. “First, I focus on all the things I have to be is grateful for: My family, my career and the opportunity to help other people lead healthier lives. That’s my purpose. And purpose is important. Next, I focus on what I CAN control such as eating a healthy diet, exercising every day, and getting enough sleep. And finally, I let go of what I can’t control like the fact that I have this disorder and that helps keep me from feeling sorry for myself or feeling like a victim.”
When I sent this article to Dr. Garzon to make sure I had quoted her accurately, this what she wrote back: “I feel like this article makes me look too perfect, which is so NOT true. I cried my eyes out in the middle of a bike trail just last week due to my body completely shutting down. I DO have difficulties at times but manage to pick up the pieces and carry on leveraging my purpose and all the strategies I have available to me to help me to carry on.”
As I said before, she truly understands these dueling dimensions of control. That’s why I always enjoy working with Dr. Garzon. And now that the pandemic is nearing an end, Dr. Garzon has made another pivot in her business strategy by offering a new online course. (See Below) I highly recommend that you consider signing up for this program. Dr. Garzon, besides being about the most easy-going person I’ve ever worked with, she is also a brilliant scientist, an engaging speaker, and a lot of fun to be around.
Are you looking for solutions to prevent or treat burnout within your organization? Or maybe you're experiencing burnout yourself?
Whether you're looking to ignite your inner flame or fire up your employees, The Business of You - Blaze a Trail program can help! This 12-week comprehensive hybrid program is designed to help individuals identify the aspects of their lives that are putting out their fires, and provide them with science-based knowledge, tools, and resources to go from BurningOut to BurningBright. Led by Dr. Raquel Garzon, president and founder of Revitalize Project, participants will explore 10 basic business principles and how each one can be leveraged to help reach personal fulfillment in any area of their lives. Additionally, participants in The Business of You - Blaze a Trail can take part in additional train-the-trainer programming for internal delivery, sharing the course with their organization!
James Porter
Author