Mindfully letting go

“One of the hardest lessons in life is letting go. Whether it’s hurt, anger, love, loss, or betrayal - change is never easy. We fight to hold on and we fight to let go.”

I love the simple equation from my gal and mindfulness expert, Tara Brach:
anything X resistance = suffering

I’d like you to call to mind a time when you held onto something or someone for a bit too long. It might have been a relationship, a job, a habit, an old car…something that was once good, precious, and served you at the time, but over time it just no longer fit you. 

Think about how it felt when you came to that realization?

Often our resistance to change is born out of fear – fear of the unknown, fear of not being worthy of something better, fear that we are making a huge mistake. Even though the situation is no longer a positive one, we’d rather be stuck and miserable than face that fear.

How long did you hold onto that thing or person before life forced you to let go?

When we allow things to pass their expiration date we open ourselves up to greater levels of suffering in the form of resentment, anger, sadness and depression. Of course, letting go of something will always have some of those feelings present, but the degree is definitely multiplied when we add resistance to the equation.

Today I invite you to try out the intention of “I let go of things that no longer serve me”. Keep this one in your pocket for the next time you find yourself in a situation that is no longer serving your highest good.

Here’s a great little mindfulness practice to help you lighten your daily load.

Finding Lightness of Being in Your Daily Life

o This week I invite you to stay open and aware to situations that feel heavy and sticky.
o When you find yourself noticing that feeling take a few moments to sit with it. Notice where it is present in your body.
o As you sit with the feeling, begin to picture a bright light filling that heavy space. The light enters and dissolves the heaviness.
o Repeat the intention from this week of “I let go of things that no longer serve me” as you continue to sit and breath into that lightness and spaciousness you are creating.
o When you feel ready, take a few slow breaths and thank yourself for taking time to practice mindfulness!
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xoxo,Mary 
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