Learning to let go...

For some people there comes a time where we feel as if we just want to dump all that weight we’ve been carrying around with us. Throughout our lives we all have a tendency to accumulate. Whether it is the accumulation of physical possessions or status, recognition and responsibilities, or skills, knowledge and wisdom, somehow, we all accumulate something. Then, for some of us, it is as if we one day wake up and discover that what we have chosen to accumulate is starting to really weigh us down. A happy and joyous future seems unfounded and distant due to the heavy burdens of our past and present. The ‘price’ we are paying for what we have always perceived as being important is becoming quite substantial, and perhaps it is costing us to miss out on other ‘accumulations’ such as peace, love, joy, health and happiness.

It is only when we realize that the ‘price’ we are paying has become too high that we find ourselves ready and willing to let go of what no longer serves us in our lives. We are willing to cut the chain of burdens.

Letting go of what was once ‘important’ enough for us to hold onto is not necessarily easy, which is why it often takes us quite a while to get to that ‘place of surrender’. We want to hold on for the longest time, fearing what will happen if we let go of what holds meaning to us. Some of us hold onto dysfunctional, disserving patterns and behaviors because we mistakenly choose to believe that some of it serves us. Yet, others hold on to blame and anger, perhaps because that means we get to be right and feel more righteous, and perhaps we are wanting to prove to ourselves that ‘we are not that ones who have to change’. Still others hold onto fights and battles, even the constant battle for perfection and perfect balance and harmony in ALL we do. Personally, I learned the hard way that trying to be perfect, and let alone be perfectly balanced in ALL I do is exactly what will throw a person off balance in the first place. Nobody can do it ALL, and let alone do it all perfectly. Letting go of that never-ending pursuit is in and of itself a divine blessing!

To let go of the various ‘stuff’ we hold onto and choosing to simply ‘surrender’ is one of the absolute best gifts that we can possibly give ourselves. The Transformation tarot showed up for one of my clients today and it states that ‘we often cling onto the old at the expense of growth because we fear the ‘death’ of what once was’. It is quite common for humans to truly believe that the ‘devil’ we know is better than the one we don’t so we find ourselves holding onto our disserving ‘friend’ even when our souls are screaming for us to just let go and evolve!

No matter how scary it may feel at the time, letting go is never the end of the world, but it is always the beginning of a new life. It is the stepping stone for all positive transformations.

For this holiday weekend my wish for YOU is for YOU to exercise the ‘letting go’ principle and see how it serves you. Whatever comes your way and whatever seems to be throwing you for a loop…. practice the art of letting it go!

Better yet, before the holiday even starts, why not start by letting go of the idea of the perfect holiday or trip and vacation, or even the perfect you, the perfect balance, the perfect person, parent, spouse, family, kids, meal and perfect anything! Remind yourself that nothing can be perfected because everything already is perfect! Life is beautiful! You’re here! You’re alive! This is your NOW! What once was is what ‘once’ was. Let it go. The past is past. This is now!

Whenever you find yourself being pulled towards your ego’s anxious thoughts and emotions just breathe! With every deep breath you can let yourself be born again, calm and peaceful. In the words of Oprah Winfrey; “Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” So enjoy it! Enjoy the surprises, the love, the laughter, the relationships, the chaos, the excitement, the calm, the drama, the connections, the spontaneity, the memories, the action, the rest and simply the LIFE of it all! This is YOUR life! These are the people YOU LOVE! Soak them up and choose to show up as the best YOU that you can be! And, simply LOVE! The only thing you have to do is be conscious of how YOU are showing up! You can set the bar, and you can set the energy level that will infect everyone around you. This is how powerful you really are!

Have fun with this and just enjoy all of your experiences as perfectly imperfect they may be and then you are surely destined to have a wonderful thanksgiving weekend...

“In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you love? How deeply did you learn to let go?” – The Buddha