The Only Real Solution—Stop Trying to Fix the World, Start Letting Go of the Part That Needs Fixing
Whenever life doesn’t go your way—a friend cancels, your schedule changes, someone gives you unasked-for advice—it’s natural to start planning, blaming, or fixing. The urge is strong: if only you could tweak the circumstances just right, maybe you could finally feel okay. But if you pay attention, you’ll notice a pattern: the moment one issue is resolved, another pops up just as quickly, leaving you exhausted and rarely satisfied for long.
You’ve probably spent countless hours rearranging the outer world in search of peace, but deep down, an uncomfortable truth emerges. No matter how many times you succeed in changing situations or people, something inside you remains dissatisfied. Turning the spotlight inward feels counterintuitive—shouldn’t you solve the obvious problem? Yet, the more you examine the source of your discomfort, the clearer it becomes: the part of you that gets disturbed is the true root to address.
This represents a paradigm shift. Behavioral science and mindfulness research show that true well-being depends not on controlling external variables but on releasing the inner constraints and narratives that generate drama. Once you transition into ‘inner solution consciousness’—the practice of letting go instead of fixing the world—you release yourself from the endless cycle of striving and open the door to genuine calm.
The next time you feel compelled to problem-solve the world to find peace, stop and direct your attention inward. Ask yourself, ‘What part of me is disturbed by this?’ Sit with this feeling, noticing it without judgment, and then gently shift from trying to control events to simply letting discomfort rise and pass. As you practice this over time, you’ll notice peace comes less from outcomes and more from your willingness to release inner resistance. Begin experimenting with small annoyances and see what opens up for you.
What You'll Achieve
You’ll free yourself from the endless loop of fixing and controlling other people or events, accelerating growth and finding calm through direct engagement with inner experience.
Practice Inner Solution Consciousness over Outer Control
Notice when you’re problem-solving about external situations.
Every time you start planning or worrying to avoid feeling disturbed, pause and turn your attention inward instead.
Ask, 'What part of me is disturbed?'
Instead of thinking about fixing the outside, inquire what inside you is bothered, then watch it without judging.
Shift from ‘how do I fix it?’ to ‘who is watching this?”
Spend a moment observing the disturbance from the seat of awareness, treating it as an inner event rather than something to fix in the world.
Release the need for the world to change before you feel better.
Acknowledge that no lasting solution comes from changing circumstances alone—instead, work on releasing the grip of internal discomfort.
Reflection Questions
- What situations tend to trigger your need to control or fix?
- How do you feel when you try to solve everything outside yourself?
- What’s different when you shift focus to your internal state?
- How might your life feel if you let go more often?
Personalization Tips
- In a group project, when a teammate frustrates you, recognize the part of you that feels annoyed before trying to change their behavior.
- If feeling excluded from a social event, shift focus from external complaints to sitting with the inner sting and letting it pass.
- After a workout disappointment, notice frustration rising and ask, ‘What part of me is so attached to this outcome?’
The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
Ready to Take Action?
Get the Mentorist app and turn insights like these into daily habits.