Control.

Every investor wants it.
Control over outcomes.
Control over markets.
Control over returns.

But here is the paradox. The more you try to control, the less control you actually have.

Markets will not listen to you. Prices will not move the way you want. Portfolios will not always grow in a straight line. If your idea of control is about holding on tightly, you will only set yourself up for frustration.

The real way to remain in control is to give up control.

You cannot control what the markets will do tomorrow. But you can control the process you follow.
You cannot control how quickly wealth will compound. But you can control your patience, your behavior, and your discipline.
You cannot control which fund or stock will outperform next year. But you can control your asset allocation, your time horizon, and your long-term goals.

This is the shift. Control is not about prediction. Control is about preparation.

When you stop trying to control the uncontrollable, you free up energy to focus on what truly matters.
When you let go of the illusion of control, you gain real control over the only things that count: your decisions, your actions, your discipline.

Think of it like flying a plane. The pilot cannot control the wind. But the pilot can control the course, the altitude, the preparation, and the skill with which the plane is flown.

As an investor, your version of flying is building a plan that does not depend on luck. It is sticking to that plan with clarity and consistency. That is where real control lies.

The next time you feel the need to hold on tighter, pause. Ask yourself, “Am I trying to control what I cannot?” Then shift focus back to what you can.

That is how you remain in control. By giving up control.