I'm intrigued because at first it appears to be a paradoxical statement, but with a potentially logical answer.
In addition to that though, I think I (and others?) make sense of the world through narrative and there is value to other people's narratives, though that may be in conflict with the context of your comment.
It's a Zen game he's playing with you :). The point is to let go, but letting go can also become a pursuit, in which case you're not really letting go. You're right about the paradox, you're possibility wrong about the existence of a logical answer.
The idea of controlling ones life presupposes that there is “one”, that is separate from life, so that the “one” can control life. It presupposes some kind of separation in the field of experience.
In addition to that though, I think I (and others?) make sense of the world through narrative and there is value to other people's narratives, though that may be in conflict with the context of your comment.