Trust And Surrender

Trying to control the future
is like trying to take the master carpenter’s place.
When you handle the master carpenter’s tools,
chances are that you’ll cut your hand. –Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu (Stephen Mitchell Translation)

“I never looked back, although I had many uneasy periods looking forward.” -Raymond Chandler

“There is nothing so certain in our fears that’s not yet more certain in the fact that most of what we dread comes to nothing.” -Seneca

“A poor farmer’s horse ran off into the country of the barbarians. All his neighbors offered their condolences, but his father said, “How do you know that this isn’t good fortune?” After a few months the horse returned with a barbarian horse of excellent stock. All his neighbors offered their congratulations, but his father said, “How do you know this isn’t a disaster?”. The two horses bred, and the family became rich in fine horses. The farmer’s son spent much of his time riding them; one day he fell off and broke his hipbone. All his neighbors offered the farmer their condolences, but his father said, “How do you know that this isn’t good fortune?” Another year passed, and the barbarians invaded the frontier. All the able-bodied young men were conscripted, and nine-tenths of them died in the war. Thus good fortune can be disaster and vice versa. Who can tell how events will be transformed?” -story from The Huai Nan Tzu

When you get rejected or are going through difficult times, it’s pointless to ask why this happened or what this means or what the future will be.

Also, perhaps your timing and judgment is off. What seems awful right now might be the best thing that could’ve ever happened.

Double down on your belief in self and the art you’re trying to do. Make Trust and Surrender your two greatest allies. Head down. Keep going.