Many people you speak with mention the word “control,” whether it be mental or physical control. People assume they are “in control” of their thoughts, actions, or inanimate objects. I find this interesting as a motorcyclist. I have learned that “control” is an illusion created by the mind, an idea or tool we use to help us shape the immediate future and exhibit our will over something or even someone.

To that end, when I am riding my motorcycle, I position myself upright on the seat, take hold of the handlebars, pull in the clutch lever, shift the drive system into gear, and move away in the direction I’m looking. The handlebars, engine, frame, seat, chassis, transmission, final drive, and wheels are all parts of the motorcycle I use to “control” the speed and direction of the machine.

I see the motorcycle not as individual parts but as a single solid object—a motorcycle. The reality is that it’s made up of hundreds of individual pieces. This sum of parts makes up a complete motorcycle. I could go on for hours about the importance of each part in relation to the overall function of the motorcycle, but we’ll leave that for another time.

Why do we assume that if we have the controls of a machine at our fingertips, we have complete control over the machine? Is it the solid feeling of the bars in our hand, the fact that we can use the throttle, clutch, shift lever, and other controls to steer, accelerate, and decelerate the machine?

We always plan to get on the motorcycle and have it take us to our destination without incident. We check things like the gas, oil, chain, brakes, lights, and controls to be as prepared as possible for our ride.

The fact is, many things are out of our control and can interfere with our plans. If just one of the many parts that make up the sum of our motorcycle fails, it can interfere with our plans and even stop us in our tracks. Obstacles in our environment can appear suddenly. A rock, rut, or animal in our path can upset the balance of the motorcycle and toss the rider over the bars in a fraction of a second. Was the rider in control of that situation?

I would argue that we can’t even control our own thoughts! How can this be, you ask? Easy. We have hundreds of thoughts every day, but not all of them belong to us. They are planted there by many outside influencers, like the media, friends, parents, and our significant other, for example. Our subconscious picks up information everywhere, recalls these opinions at relevant times, and adds them as thoughts.

Have you ever been driving your car and had a vision of someone hitting you head-on? Or had a vision of a loved one being injured or killed? Where do these thoughts come from, and why do they creep into our heads in the first place? It might be hidden fears, but it might just be something else.

MM