Maybe Yes, Maybe No. We’ll See.

Living With Uncertainty: A Reflection on Letting Go of Control

A little over a week ago, something very upsetting happened. My Instagram and Facebook accounts were suddenly disabled. These platforms are where I stay connected with friends and family, and where I share my work, build Living in the Light, and carry the momentum I’ve been working so hard to create.

I feel devastated, especially as I’ve come to realize how little control I have over getting them back. While my Living in the Light Elyse Instagram is now back online, my personal Instagram, personal Facebook, and Living in the Light Facebook pages remain disabled.

As all of this was unfolding, I kept thinking about a story I have returned to many times over the years: the story of the Chinese Farmer.

The story goes like this.

There once was a farmer whose horse ran away. When the neighbors heard the news, they came by to offer their sympathy. “What terrible luck,” they said.

The farmer replied, “Maybe yes. Maybe no. We’ll see.”

A few days later, the horse returned, bringing with it several wild horses. The neighbors came back, this time offering congratulations. “What great luck,” they said.

The farmer replied, “Maybe yes. Maybe no. We’ll see.”

Soon after, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the wild horses and was thrown, breaking his leg. The neighbors returned once again. “What terrible luck,” they said.

The farmer replied, “Maybe yes. Maybe no. We’ll see.”

Not long after, soldiers came through the village, conscripting young men to fight in a war. Because the farmer’s son was injured, he was spared. The neighbors came back once more. “What great luck,” they said.

And the farmer replied, “Maybe yes. Maybe no. We’ll see.”

The story is simple, but the wisdom is deep.

In yoga, we practice this same idea when we work with uncertainty. We stay present with discomfort without rushing to label it or fix it. We breathe, soften and notice what arises instead of tightening against what we cannot control.

That does not mean we deny what is happening. It does not mean we pretend everything is fine.

I am not writing this from a place of resolution. I am frustrated. I am disappointed. I am still in the thick of it. And at the same time, I am learning to face what is unfolding without immediately deciding what it means.

The Chinese Farmer never denies what is happening. He simply refuses to rush to judgment. He stays present and allows the story to continue unfolding.

That perspective is what I am holding onto right now.

Maybe this situation is a setback. Maybe it will lead somewhere unexpected. Maybe it is simply asking for patience.

We’ll see.