"Life is too short. I can't control everything in my life. Trying to is exhausting!!" - member of myHIVteam

When first faced with an HIV 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 HIV forces us to recognize what we can and cannot control.

Members on myHIVteam 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 myHIVteam

Here are some conversations from myHIVteam about letting go:

• "I thought life as I knew it was over. I spent a lot of time beating myself up for becoming positive. I knew better. I was fifty years old. I watched friends die in the 90s. How could I have been so stupid and act so recklessly? I was human. And I learned to forgive myself."

• "Enjoy the small things, be kind, be supportive, let go of the spite and negativity."

• "May we always be guided by what is best for our children and forgive ourselves for those times we missed the mark."

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 myHIVteam.com.