Many of us live under the false belief that if we just try hard enough, we can make life conform to our expectations. We attempt to control how others behave, how situations unfold, or even how people perceive us. When these efforts fail—as they inevitably do—we experience deep frustration, anger, and despair.
Trying to control things that are beyond our influence can lead to exhaustion and resentment. Whether it's attempting to force a relationship to work, obsessing over the future, or refusing to accept the past, this mindset creates unnecessary suffering. The definition of insanity, often quoted, is "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." This is exactly what happens when we refuse to let go.