In truth, life cannot be lived in advance, and love does not need fear to be real. When we surrender control, practice presence, and trust the flow of life — insecurity dissolves, and serenity begins

It was a magnificent sunset. The sky was ablaze with crimson, and the sinking sun painted everything in hues of red and gold. Nature stood still, and for a brief moment, it seemed like time had paused. Yet within that calm, something stirred within me — a quiet unease. That evening, I met a dear friend after many years. We had both changed in countless ways, shaped by time, experience, and life’s unpredictable journey. As we sat together, sipping tea, she began sharing her thoughts — not the surface — level kind, but those that arise from the depths of motherhood.

She spoke of how becoming a mother had altered her way of thinking. “My mind never stops anymore,” she confessed. “I keep thinking about my daughter — her future, her safety, her education, her social circle, even her marriage.” I asked her how old her daughter was.

“Just two,” she said softly. That moment hit me hard. How could a two-year-old, so new to the world, stir such a storm of worry? How could such a young life already be entangled in projections, fears, and imagined futures? That night, her words lingered. I couldn’t sleep. I lay in bed, reflecting on the intricate working of the human mind — how it creates stories, anticipates problems, and weaves webs of insecurity out of thin air. It became clear to me that insecurity is not always born from real threats; often, it arises from within us — from overthinking, fear of the unknown, and our longing to control what cannot be controlled. In those quiet hours, I remembered a powerful verse from the Bhagavad Gita: Verse 2.47 “Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana” You have a right to perform your duties, but not to the fruits of your actions. This teaching carries immense wisdom. We worry because we are attached to results, to outcomes that lie outside our control. We overthink because we believe we can plan and predict every moment. But the Gita reminds us — do your karma with sincerity and devotion, but leave the results to the Divine. Therein lies our freedom. Yet the mind resists. It loops thoughts endlessly, returns to the same fears, and builds mountains out of possibilities. The Gita acknowledges this too.  Verse 6.34 The mind is restless, turbulent, strong and obstinate. Controlling it is as difficult as controlling the wind.

Even Arjuna — a warrior trained in discipline — admitted that mastering the mind felt impossible. Krishna, however, gives the way forward: Verse 6.35 Abhyasena tu Kaunteya, vairagyena cha grihyate “It is undoubtedly difficult to control the mind, but it can be conquered through practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya).” These two concepts are key: Abhyasa is the discipline of daily effort — meditation, silence, breathwork, and reflection. Vairagya is non-attachment — the ability to release what we cannot control. Together, they form the foundation of mental clarity and inner security. The Gita’s path to mental freedom can be summarised in five principles which i would want everyone to absorb in life

1. Abhyasa (Practice): Train your mind through consistent awareness.

2. Vairagya (Detachment): Let go of clinging to imagined outcomes.

3. Sthitaprajna (Stable Wisdom): Stay anchored in calm amidst chaos.

4. Karma Yoga (Selfless Action): Do your duty without ego or expectation.

5. Bhakti (Devotion): Surrender your burdens to the Divine and trust the process.

These ancient insights find resonance in the teachings of modern mystic Osho, who offers a radical yet liberating approach to the mind. He says, “The mind is a beautiful servant but a dangerous master.” According to Osho, our suffering comes not from life, but from our identification with the mind — especially the ego, which constantly seeks security, validation, and control. The more we chase certainty, the more insecure we become. And he says the solution is not to suppress thought but to observe it. Through witnessing — pure, detached observation — the mind starts losing its grip. Thoughts rise and fall like waves, but you remain the silent watcher. That space between you and your thoughts is where peace begins.

And in those hours i thought Learning to Let Go Is the key forward. The fears my friend expressed weren’t irrational — they were deeply human. But they were also projections of an anxious mind trying to secure the future. In truth, life cannot be lived in advance, and love does not need fear to be real. Whether we are mothers, seekers, or simply human beings navigating uncertainty — we all carry this unseen weight. But we also have the wisdom of sages, scriptures, and inner stillness to lighten the load.

When we surrender control, practice presence, and trust the flow of life — insecurity dissolves, and serenity begins. And sometimes, that journey begins with nothing more than watching a sunset and choosing not to worry about tomorrow..

— The author’s views are personal. (The author is a civil servant at the Ministry of Defence and a spiritual speaker)