Finding Peace in the Face of Uncertainty: "Let it Be" and the Power of Accepting What We Cannot Control
Blog post description.
The Beatles' "Let it Be," a poignant ballad released towards the end of their groundbreaking career, resonates deeply with listeners even decades later. This enduring impact can be attributed, in part, to the song's reflection of a fundamental psychological concept: locus of control.
Locus of control refers to an individual's belief system regarding the source of events in their life. Those with an internal locus of control believe they have significant influence over their experiences, while those with an external locus of control attribute events to external forces beyond their control.
"Let it Be" can be interpreted as an expression of acceptance and resignation, perhaps reflecting The Beatles' acknowledgment of the band's inevitable dissolution. The lyrics, "There will be an answer, let it be," convey a sense of surrendering to the natural flow of events and finding peace within that acceptance.
Interestingly, this theme aligns beautifully with the principles of Stoicism, a philosophy founded in ancient Greece around 300 BC by Zeno of Citium. Stoicism emphasizes the importance of virtue and reason in achieving a tranquil state of mind. A core tenet of Stoicism is the dichotomy of control, which distinguishes between what we can control (our thoughts, actions, and reactions) and what we cannot (external events, the thoughts and actions of others, and the outcomes of our actions).
Epictetus, a prominent Stoic philosopher and former slave, echoes this sentiment in his statement, "It's about understanding where our influence ends and accepting that some things are beyond our control." By acknowledging the limitations of our control, we can liberate ourselves from the anxiety and frustration associated with trying to force outcomes beyond our reach.
"Let it Be" serves as a powerful reminder that while we may not always control the circumstances we face, we can choose how we respond to them. By embracing the Stoic philosophy of accepting what we cannot control and focusing on what we can, we can cultivate a sense of peace and inner strength, allowing us to navigate life's inevitable challenges with greater resilience and grace.
After UCLA College of Letters where I obtained PhD is Philosophy, Psychology and Religion I got a teaching job at the University. I felt uneasy teaching. I applied for a job in the mental health field; I got many offers and within two years was running the mental health center where I worked, supervising psychologists and psychiatrists who have been in that field for many decades.
Eventually, I felt bored by the job (of been executive director...I was barely thirty two years old when I was the executive director of the largest mental health agency in the city where I lived) and quit and tried doing other things.
Nothing I tried worked out for me. So, I did other executive director jobs but eventually wound up quitting and returning to college teaching until I felt that teaching is too easy for me; I felt unchallenged being a college professor (I filled my time writing on assorted subjects that interested me).
Eventually, I realized that I have a destiny and fate. My normal routine is to read until I go to sleep (although there is a huge TV in the house, I seldom watch it) and get up around 5 AM, think for a while, and then go to my computer and type the thoughts that I just had in my sleep.