There are things we control - but things that are not in

Rohit Sharma, master of the cricketing field and student of life’s deeper rhythms, once declared with clarity and strength: “There are things we control – but things that are not in control, no point wasting time and energy into that.” Though born in the arena of sport, these words rise far beyond the boundaries of the game. They are the voice of timeless wisdom, echoing the truths once spoken by philosophers and warriors alike: that man’s peace and power rest not in grasping at the uncontrollable, but in mastering himself and his response.

The origin of this insight comes from the crucible of competition. In the sport of cricket, as in life, much lies beyond one’s reach—an umpire’s call, the bounce of a pitch, the roar of the crowd, the sudden turn of weather. To rage against these is to scatter one’s strength like chaff in the wind. Sharma, through experience, understood that greatness lies not in controlling fate itself, but in controlling effort, discipline, and mindset. Thus he spoke what the ancients knew: power lies not in ruling the storm, but in steering one’s own vessel.

To say there are things we control is to recall the Stoics of old, who taught that a man governs only his thoughts, his choices, his actions. All else—fortune, fame, life, and death—flows beyond his command. Epictetus, once a slave, taught this same lesson: “Some things are in our control and others not.” And yet, though chains bound his body, his spirit was free, for he poured no energy into lamenting the uncontrollable, but directed all strength into what he could shape—his will, his virtue, his endurance. Sharma’s words echo this same heroic simplicity.

History too offers us living examples. Consider Abraham Lincoln, burdened with the Civil War. He could not control the hatred of his enemies, nor the vast sweep of events; yet he placed his energy where it mattered—preserving the Union, speaking words that healed, laboring with patience for justice. He did not waste himself upon bitterness at the uncontrollable, but worked tirelessly upon the controllable. And thus, though assailed on all sides, he left behind a legacy of strength that endures.

The meaning is clear: when we waste our time upon what cannot be changed, we drain ourselves of the power to shape what can. To pour anger into the rain is folly; to pour effort into the seed is wisdom. To rage against the wind is useless; to set one’s sails rightly is greatness. Life is not free from chaos, but it is full of choice. And he who learns to discern between what is his to command and what is beyond him has already gained mastery.

The lesson for us, then, is to guard our strength. Direct it like an arrow toward the target of what can truly be influenced. Do not squander it on complaint, on bitterness, on illusions of control. Ask yourself: can I act upon this matter? If yes, then act with all your heart. If no, then release it, and let not its weight bend your spirit. In this way, you will live as one who is free, unbroken by storms, unshaken by fate.

Practically, this means focusing on your discipline, your craft, your inner life. If exams loom, spend energy studying, not fearing the unknown. If your health falters, give effort to exercise and care, not despair over what cannot be undone. If relationships strain, speak with honesty, but do not waste energy demanding what lies beyond another’s will. Train yourself daily to release what you cannot rule, and to rule well what is within your reach.

So let Rohit Sharma’s words ring like the counsel of an elder: “There are things we control – but things that are not in control, no point wasting time and energy into that.” Remember them in the heat of life’s battles. For those who master this truth live not as slaves to fate, but as kings of their own souls. They waste nothing, they endure everything, and they walk through storms with the calm of those who know where true power lies.