The Paradox of Letting Go

There is an old paradox that appears throughout life.

The harder we chase happiness,

the more distant it becomes.

The harder we force sleep,

the more awake we feel.

The harder we cling to certainty,

the more uncertain life appears.

Control promises security.

Yet often produces anxiety.

Letting go is frequently misunderstood.

People imagine giving up.

Resignation.

Indifference.

It is none of these.

Letting go is continuing to care without insisting on controlling the outcome.

The sailor cannot command the wind.

He adjusts the sails.

The musician cannot force inspiration.

She continues practising.

The parent cannot live the child's life.

Only prepare them.

Perhaps letting go is not the absence of effort.

It is the absence of unnecessary struggle.

Life continues to unfold.

Whether our hands are clenched...

or open.