"Pour le dire encore plus clairement : le désir de sécurité et le sentiment d'insécurité sont la même chose. Retenir son souffle, c'est perdre son souffle. Une société basée sur la quête de sécurité n'est rien d'autre qu'un concours de rétention de souffle "

What we have here is a deep thought about the connection between the desire for security and the actual sense of insecurity. It suggests that the more we chase security, the more insecure we become. Imagine you're holding your breath because you feel it's the only way to stay safe. What happens? You can't sustain it. You eventually run out of air, feeling even more desperate and panicked than if you had just breathed naturally. The same happens in society when everyone is so focused on feeling safe that they end up creating more tension and stress.

This idea comes from Alan Watts, a British philosopher known for bringing Eastern philosophy to Western audiences. He was really big in the 60s and 70s, a time when people were questioning traditional values and looking for new ways to understand life. Watts often talked about how our constant need for security—whether financial, emotional, or physical—can make us feel more insecure and anxious. His point was that by trying to control everything, we end up feeling out of control.

Think about a real-life example: a high-pressure corporate job. You're always worried about your performance, constantly trying to secure your position, maybe get that next promotion. But the more you obsess over it, the more stressed you become. You're holding your breath, worried that any mistake could cost you your job. You end up burned out, your health suffers, and ironically, your performance might even drop because you're so anxious. In trying to secure your future, you make your present miserable.

So, how can you apply this wisdom? Start by breathing—literally and metaphorically. Take a step back and let go of the need to control every little detail. Focus on the present moment instead. Trust that things will work out if you do your best and stay true to your values. It’s about finding a balance between planning for the future and living in the now. You don't have to have everything figured out right this second.

Imagine you're a student stressed about an upcoming exam. You study and study, worried that if you don't get an A, your future is doomed. The anxiety builds. You can barely sleep, your mind races, and by the time the exam comes, you're a mess. But what if you took breaks, allowed yourself to breathe, and trusted in the work you've put in? You'd likely be more relaxed and perform better, right?

Here’s a personal story: I once knew someone who was always fretting about job security. They saved every penny, avoided taking vacations, and worked late every night. But then, out of the blue, the company downsized, and they lost their job anyway. All that stress and rigidity didn’t save them. What did help was their ability to adapt and find new opportunities once they stopped holding their breath.

So take a moment, breathe out, and let go of the need to control everything. Life tends to work out in ways we can't always predict, and sometimes the best security comes from being flexible and trusting the process.