Winnie-the-Pooh is one of my absolute favorite children book characters. First created in back 1924 by A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard, the kind-hearted and innocent stories about a teddy bear named Pooh who loves honey way too much to worry about his growing belly, and his adventures with his best companions Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Piglet, Owl, Rabbit, and Tigger are an absolute masterpiece with so much wisdom on life and everyday happiness!

So much so that Benjamin Hoff decided to use the work of Winnie-the-Pooh to explain the classic principles of taoism. (If you decide to read his analysis, you will have another reason to love Winnie-the-Pooh, I promise!)

It is difficult to point to just one particular idea in his book, The Tao Of Pooh, that would make you stop and think, for there are so many. But there is one that stood out to me in particular, which concerns the power of letting go. I assume it's because letting go of control is something that I'm struggling with in my own life.

Here is Hoff's observation:

"In order to take control of our lives and accomplish something of lasting value, sooner or later we need to learn to Believe. We don't need to shift our responsibilities onto the shoulders of some deified Spiritual Superman, or sit around and wait for Fate to come knocking at the door. We simply need to believe in the power that's within us, and use it. When we do that, and stop imitating others and competing against them, things begin to work for us." — Benjamin Hoff

I find these words quite inspiring and empowering. Hope you do, too.

Kindly,

Neva.