Finding Peace with "Let it Be": The Psychology of Acceptance and Letting Go
Blog post description.
The Beatles' "Let it Be," a song tinged with the bittersweetness of acceptance, resonates deeply even decades after its release. This enduring appeal can be attributed, in part, to its reflection of a fundamental psychological concept: locus of control.
Locus of control refers to the extent to which individuals believe they have control over their lives and the events that unfold around them. It encompasses a spectrum, with internal locus of control signifying a belief in personal agency and the ability to influence outcomes, while external locus of control reflects the belief that external forces, such as fate or chance, dictate the course of life.
The sentiment of "Let it Be" aligns with the teachings of Stoicism, a philosophy founded in ancient Greece around 300 BC by Zeno of Citium. Stoicism emphasizes the importance of accepting what is beyond our control and focusing on the aspects of life that we can influence, such as our thoughts, actions, and reactions.
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 cultivate inner peace and avoid the distress associated with resisting the inevitable.
"Let it Be" serves as a powerful reminder that finding peace often lies in acceptance. By recognizing the limitations of our control and focusing on what we can influence, we can navigate the uncertainties of life with greater resilience and serenity.
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.