“Something you possibly can’t management is educating you to let go.” ~Unknown
There’s a narrative I learn to my youngsters, an outdated piece of African folklore. Within the story, a intelligent jackal outwits a mighty lion by convincing him that the rock ledge above them is about to break down. The lion, believing the jackal’s warning, makes use of all his energy to push up in opposition to the rock, holding it in place.
The jackal guarantees to return with a department to assist the ledge, however as a substitute, he makes his escape. Hours later, exhausted, the lion lastly collapses, throwing his paws over his head in concern—solely to appreciate the rock was by no means going to fall. It had been holding itself up all alongside.
By believing the jackal’s story, the lion not solely misplaced his probability at a meal but additionally drained himself fully. His muscular tissues trembled, his breath got here ragged, his power was spent. The rock had by no means wanted his energy in any respect.
I thought of this story the opposite day—not whereas studying to my youngsters, however in a second of quiet realization. A wave of exhaustion and aid hit me. I might really feel the load dropping from my shoulders, as if I had been reducing my very own arms from the rock ledge, solely simply realizing it had by no means wanted my assist.
For years, I’ve tried to carry up issues that had been by no means mine to hold—relationships, outcomes, even the way in which the world strikes. Intellectually, I’ve identified for some time that management and perfectionism are two traits I must launch so as to heal and transfer ahead. And but, the necessity for management is so deeply ingrained that it slips in sideways, undetected, simply once I assume I’ve cracked the code.
Take my writing, for instance. It has all the time been pushed by twin wants: first, to precise myself, to form my creativity and voice; however second, to make a distinction—to shift the broader story unfolding on the worldwide stage. Underpinning that is the assumption that if I work laborious sufficient, craft my phrases fastidiously sufficient, perhaps I can affect one thing greater than myself.
However as I pictured the lion straining in opposition to the rock, I noticed myself in him—struggling to alter the world, to make an affect. And identical to the rock ledge, the world strikes because it all the time has, with or with out my effort. No quantity of willpower will shift it.
At first, this realization felt disheartening. However then I noticed it for what it was: a possibility. An opportunity to redirect my power towards what I can management—my very own selections, my very own development—somewhat than exhausting myself attempting to push in opposition to one thing that can by no means transfer.
The identical is true in my relationships. Once I see household or associates battle, my first impulse is to leap in and repair it for them. If I can’t repair it, I inform them how they need to repair it. And after they don’t, I wait impatiently for them to behave on my plan.
Acceptance has all the time felt like forfeit, like giving in. However actual love isn’t about management. It isn’t about making another person change. If something, my pushing solely gave others one thing to withstand—an excuse to keep away from trying inward and making the change themselves.
Simply the opposite day, my son James banged his head. What adopted was typical for him—somewhat than working to me for consolation like his sisters, he ran away crying, shouting, “Go away!” once I approached. It broke my coronary heart.
I didn’t hear. I inched nearer, swatting away his flailing limbs, attempting to assuage, attempting to assist, attempting to repair. However the extra I reached for him, the extra he recoiled. My love felt like pursuit—like pushing, pulling, prodding. I used to be attempting to make issues higher when what he wanted was for me to easily be there, regular and affected person, till he was prepared to return again on his personal.
It’s laborious to let go. Exhausting to just accept that I can’t shield, information, and mildew every part as a father or mother, a accomplice, a daughter, a good friend. However even a four-year-old typically wants the area to search out his personal method via. Typically, the very best—the one—factor I can do is cease pushing and maintain the area for him to search out himself.
Give up will not be passivity. Letting go of management doesn’t imply doing nothing—it means shifting my focus inward, towards what I can change: myself, my selections, my very own development. It means holding area for these I like, trusting that they’ll discover their very own method.
The message was pushed house once more within the quiet of my desires. I noticed a big and exquisite rainbow-colored ring—daring, unconventional, in contrast to the standard platinum engagement band. It shimmered with one thing deeper: a special form of love, one unconstrained by inflexible expectations.
The following morning, as if to affirm the message, James’ tiny hand slipped into mine within the kitchen. With a delighted giggle, he rolled a shiny, multi-colored playdough ring onto my finger.
I checked out him, at his pleasure, at his providing. And I understood.
Love isn’t about clinging, controlling, or shaping one thing into what we predict it needs to be. Love is versatile. Love is colourful. Love is private. And typically, love merely holds area, ready patiently for the second we’re able to return to it.
This realization carries a tinge of unhappiness. What number of years have I spent striving to maneuver boulders that had been by no means mine to shift?
However past the unhappiness, there’s additionally pleasure—deep, unshakable pleasure—in realizing I’m free. Reduction in figuring out I don’t have to carry up the world, my associates, or my household.
And peace—ultimately, inside attain—in trusting that life is unfolding precisely because it’s meant to, as I slowly, gently, let go.
About Katherine Wiles
Katherine Wiles is a author, media skilled, and mom of three exploring the intersection of therapeutic, id, and emotional reality. On her Substack, A Path to Wholeness, she shares private essays and soulful interviews with lecturers, guides, and practitioners navigating the journey of self-discovery. Her work has been featured in Tiny Buddha, Brevity, and past. She writes to decelerate, reconnect, and bear in mind what issues most. Discover her at wileswrites.substack.com.
