We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go

The words of Thich Nhat Hanh, “We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we’ll also have a lot more joy in living,” flow like water over parched earth. They are gentle, yet they pierce the heart with undeniable truth. In this quote, the great Zen master reminds us that life is not a race, but a journey, and that success is not born from endless haste, but from balance, calm, and presence. He speaks to a world that worships busyness, declaring that the soul is nourished not by running faster, but by learning to pause.

The origin of these words lies in Thich Nhat Hanh’s lifelong teaching of mindfulness. Exiled from Vietnam during war, he walked among chaos, yet carried peace within him. His wisdom was shaped in the midst of violence and urgency, yet he discovered that true strength came not from restless striving, but from breathing, resting, and living fully in each moment. This teaching is rooted in the Buddha’s ancient path, which calls us to release craving and return to the stillness of awareness. But Hanh’s phrasing brings it into the modern age: where men and women, consumed by schedules, deadlines, and ambition, have forgotten the simple art of stopping.

The ancients knew this truth as well. In the book of Ecclesiastes, it is written: “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Even the wisest knew that ceaseless toil, without pause, breaks the spirit. The warrior trains, but must also rest his sword. The farmer labors, but must also let the field lie fallow. The one who only runs soon collapses, but the one who rests and renews rises again with greater strength. Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us that this eternal rhythm has not changed, though the modern world seeks to deny it.

Consider the story of Winston Churchill in the darkest hours of the Second World War. Though he bore the weight of nations upon his shoulders, he was known to take naps daily, even in the midst of war councils. When others mocked this habit, he replied that it gave him two days in one, renewing his energy to carry the burden of leadership. His practice reflects Hanh’s wisdom: that pausing is not weakness, but a secret source of endurance. Even in the storm, one must return to the eye, the still center, to remain unbroken.

The meaning of Hanh’s words reaches beyond efficiency—it is not only about doing better, but about living better. To pause is to return to the present moment, to rediscover joy in small things: the breath, the sunlight, the laughter of a child. When we run ceaselessly, we lose these treasures, and even our victories taste hollow. But when we pause and re-center, success becomes sweeter, for it is joined with gratitude, peace, and presence.

The lesson is this: do not mistake busyness for success, nor constant motion for progress. Learn to stop, to breathe, to let stillness wash over your soul. In these pauses, the mind clears, the heart steadies, and the body heals. From this renewal, true creativity and wisdom arise. The one who knows how to pause will endure longer, shine brighter, and live more joyfully than the one who never stops running.

Practical action lies within reach. Each day, take moments to pause: a few breaths before speaking, a short walk without distraction, a quiet sip of tea where you feel the warmth and taste fully. Guard these moments as sacred, for they are the wells that will replenish you. Do not be ashamed to rest; know that in resting you are sharpening your spirit. In this way, your life will not only be successful in labor, but rich in joy.

Thus, in the voice of the ancients, we proclaim: Blessed are those who pause, for they will find their strength renewed. Blessed are those who re-center, for they will not be broken by the storms of life. And let us remember always the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh: that true success is not found in endless running, but in the sacred rhythm of stopping, breathing, and living fully in the present moment.