“Letting go takes a lot of courage sometimes. But once you let go, happiness comes very quickly. You won’t have to go around searching for it.”
— Thích Nhất Hạnh · 1926 – 2022Source: 5 Practices for Nurturing Happiness (article presenting this teaching; no dated primary source identified) · Check the source
Disputed attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The wording appears in an article that attributes the teaching to Thích Nhất Hạnh; a closely related passage is in Peace Is Every Breath.
- What remains uncertain
- Scholars judge the attribution as plausible but not fully verified: the exact sentence lacks a clear primary source and may come from an edited transcript or paraphrase.
Understanding the quote
The line points out that courage to let go creates the inner space where happiness can arise on its own, without chasing it. It frames release as an active, brave choice rather than passivity. The idea reflects Thích Nhất Hạnh’s practical emphasis on freeing the mind from clinging so joy can be discovered.
The story behind it
Thích Nhất Hạnh combined monastic life with nonviolent activism: Martin Luther King Jr. nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, and he lived many years in exile.
Going further
- The era
- In the 1960s, amid the Vietnam War and his subsequent exile, he developed mindfulness tied to social engagement.
- The thinking
- In practice this means noticing what you cling to, breathing, and steadily loosening your grip — caring without controlling. That shift reduces reactivity and lets contentment appear.
- Key word
- Nonattachment: letting go of possessive clinging so you see things clearly and feel freer.
Three challenges to live it
In the app, you pick the one that fits your day, and in the evening you say how it went.
Sit quietly for 10 minutes and focus on your breath; notice thoughts as they come and let them go without holding on.
Letting go often begins with not gripping thoughts. A mindful pause creates the inner room where happiness can arise without chasing it.
Spend 15 minutes writing about one thing you’re still holding onto: explain why, then list one small action you can take today to let it go.
Writing exposes the patterns of attachment. Naming one concrete step turns letting go into a specific, courageous act you can try now.
Call a trusted person for 10 minutes and tell them what you want to let go of; listen to their questions without defending your stance.
Saying an attachment aloud reveals its weight. Receiving another’s attentive listening helps release tension and makes letting go more achievable.
How might you practice letting go of one worry today to see what appears?
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