"The more you struggle to live the less you live Give up the notion that you must be sure of what you are doing Instead surrender to what is real within you for that alone is sure You are above everything distressing"

This quote is all about learning to let go and live authentically. It's suggesting that the harder you try to control every aspect of your life, the more you end up missing out on truly living. Instead of trying to be certain about everything, the quote advises us to trust our inner selves—our instincts, our feelings, our core truth—because that's where real certainty lies. It’s a gentle reminder that we’re capable of rising above the stresses and worries that bog us down.

The historical context or the specific moment when this was said isn't entirely clear, but it echoes a lot of philosophies from various times—think of the Taoist concept of "wu wei" (effortless action) or even modern mindfulness practices. There’s a timelessness here, a universal truth that resonates no matter the era.

To see this quote in action, let's look at a real-life example. Consider a seasoned artist who’s been painting for years. When she first started, she obsessed over every brush stroke and color choice, trying to perfect her art. But it was only when she began to let go of that need for perfection, and paint from her heart, that her work truly flourished. She stopped trying to force herself into a mold of what she thought great art should be and started creating from a place of genuine expression. Her most acclaimed pieces came from this state of surrender, of trusting her inner creativity.

So, how can you apply this wisdom to your life? Start by noticing where you’re holding on too tightly. Maybe it’s in your career—are you overanalyzing every step, worried about making the wrong move? Or in your personal life—are you trying to control every aspect of your relationships? Try to ease up. Practice listening more to your gut feelings, your intuition. When making decisions, instead of listing endless pros and cons, take a moment to check in with how you feel about the choices. Trust that inner voice.

Imagine you’re preparing for a big presentation at work. You want everything to go perfectly, and you find yourself rehearsing endlessly, tweaking every little detail. It’s stressful. Now, think about approaching it differently. Of course, you need to prepare, but once you’ve done that, let go. Trust that you know your material. Instead of focusing on potential mistakes, focus on connecting with your audience. You might find that not only are you less stressed, but your presentation is more engaging and genuine.

Here’s a relatable story. Picture a young woman named Sarah. She’s always been deeply passionate about cooking. She dreams of opening her own restaurant, but the fear of failure keeps her stuck. She wants everything to be perfect before she takes the leap—she needs the perfect location, the perfect menu, the perfect business plan. This paralyzes her. It’s only when she starts to accept that perfection is an illusion and decides to follow her passion with what she has, that she opens a small food truck. It’s not perfect, but it’s real. Her authenticity shines through, and she finds joy in cooking and sharing her food. Her customers love her food not because it’s perfect, but because it’s made with real passion and love.

So, there you have it. The more you let go of the need to control everything, the more you allow your true self to shine. Trust what’s real within you. That’s where the magic happens.