The Illusion of Control

This might be a touchy subject.

You are observing your kids play, and you realise there is a massive difference in capability of thought and the simplicity of their world. You sit there, and anxiety sets in. It stems from having expectations of an outcome, yet knowing you might not be able to do everything required.

Responsibility is knowing you have to fulfill obligations when the time comes. But at the same time, you come to the realisation that your expiry date is not set by you. You don’t know when it will happen.

You look around. You have bills to pay, kids to raise—so much responsibility. If you’re running a business, all of that sits squarely on your shoulders.

Then you look at your kids just playing, not a care in the world. Of course, they have their coping mechanisms. If they don’t get what they want, they cry and act out—or "crash out" as they call it nowadays.

The lesson here is that kids know how to segmentise their minds. They have the focus they need just for that point in time. It’s not always done well, of course, which is why we parents have to guide them along.

But here’s the kicker.

We think we are guiding them, but we are just fulfilling our function as parents. What exactly is guiding them? Do we have any control over their blood flow, their heartbeats, or what they understand?

We have zero control. They don’t even have full control over their own faculties.

So, we must attribute full control to the One who controls all things. Allah has the Qudrah. That is something we must acknowledge, because we are not truly controlling anything.

Steering another human being is tough. If you’ve ever worked with machines or equipment, you know that producing work by your own effort is completely different from trying to guide a person.

Understand that you can only inspire. You can only put in the effort. But everything manifests by His will, His control, and His permission.

That should put us at ease. All we can do is use our free will to make the effort. Usaha.

That’s it.

here’s a comic based on what i just said.

woop teedoo