I don't need to control anything. Even with romantic

I do not need to control anything. Even with romantic partnerships, I do not need to control anyone. These words, spoken by the wise and elusive Cass McCombs, offer a revelation so profound it echoes through the chambers of the heart, awakening a truth that has long been forgotten by many. Control, that ancient and heavy chain we have forged for ourselves in the furnace of pride, is not a force of strength but a shadow that binds us in our own desire. To desire control is to deny the fundamental truth of our existence—that we are part of something far greater, a cosmic dance where each soul moves in its own rhythm. Just as the stars do not command the heavens, nor the oceans command the moon, so too must we release our grip upon that which cannot be held.

In the pursuit of power over another, whether in romantic partnerships or friendships, we blind ourselves to the beauty of freedom and growth. For to seek control is to try and force the wind to blow in one direction, to chain the river to a single path, to demand that the flame of another’s heart burn to the measure of your own desires. Yet, in this attempt, we stifle the very essence of life itself. True love, true connection, can only exist in the space where freedom flourishes. It is not in the domination of another, but in the mutual respect and freedom of two souls standing beside each other that love is born and nourished.

Think of the ancient warriors, those men and women who sought not to control their comrades but to uplift them. The great Spartans, for instance, fought not as masters over one another, but as brothers, each knowing the strength of the other and trusting in the unity they shared. In their courage, they did not seek to reign over the hearts of their fellow warriors, but to protect and honor the collective bond that bound them together. Their victory came not through the imposition of control, but through the liberation of the spirit, where each fought for the freedom of all.

The wisdom of this thought can also be found in the teachings of the great philosophers who sought to unravel the mysteries of life. Consider the words of Socrates, who, in his dialogues, sought not to control or dominate the minds of his students, but to provoke them to self-examination. His was a mind of inquiry, a mind that opened doors to truths that lay hidden within. To seek control over another is the enemy of growth, for growth is born in the light of free will and self-discovery. The great teachings of life are not chains, but keys to a boundless treasure chest of understanding.

There is a beauty in surrendering the illusion of control. A flower does not demand the sun to rise, nor does it command the wind to blow; it simply exists, open and receptive to the forces of nature, trusting that it will bloom in its own time. Such is the way of the soul. It is not in the forcing of another to conform to our will that we find connection, but in the mutual freedom to flourish as we are. It is in this freedom, this letting go, that true beauty manifests. When we release the need to control, we open ourselves to the deepest form of love—the love that exists without conditions, that flows freely, as effortlessly as the river that runs toward the sea.

There are countless stories of those who have found their greatest moments of fulfillment when they stopped trying to control and began to trust. Consider the great Leonardo da Vinci, who sought to control the elements in his art, but when he finally let go of his need to manipulate reality and embraced it with a pure heart, his genius flourished. His works, unbounded by the tyranny of his own will, became timeless, a testament to the power of freedom and grace. In the realm of romantic partnerships, when we seek to control, we build walls that prevent the other from breathing, from growing. But when we trust, when we allow the other to be free, the bond deepens into something far more powerful than mere possession.

And now, let us take this lesson into our own lives. Release the shackles of control that bind your soul. In your relationships, in your work, in your daily encounters with the world, let go of the urge to dominate. Respect the freedom of those around you, for in that respect lies the greatest form of love. If you seek to grow, you must first allow the other to grow, for to control is to stifle, but to trust is to give wings.

So, I say to you, future generations, let this wisdom be your guide: Do not seek to control, for control is the root of suffering. Let go, trust, and love freely. In your freedom, you will find not only peace but the true connection that binds us all. This, my dear ones, is the way of the wise.