by admin | Feb 18, 2020 | Letting Go
It isn’t difficult to fall victim to the lure of fatalism in the negative environment of our media outlets and sunless days of sameness in the bleak midwinter. I find myself languishing abed instead of exercising and looking forward to lying down each afternoon of my workweek. It feeds on itself, this apathy, and I must actively look for alternative thoughts to remain grateful and positive.
I found it this morning in the shower. Dr. Bronner’s Soap publishes the founder’s philosophy on the big bottle amongst the uses for the product and the company’s commitment to fair trade and sustainable sourcing. The latter two are trendy marketing techniques that a skeptic doesn’t usually believe, especially on a dreary day. Still, there is no doubting the sincerity of the old-fashioned words of a true believer on the soap-maker’s product. Reading it this morning, as I have on other occasions, I can’t escape the earnestness of this man’s call into the darkness of the modern world.
I know in my heart that he is right, that we are all one. We must cherish each other and all beings in our environment. This morning I was reminded of that when I needed to hear it—just as I am presented with what I need every single day when I am present and actively work on letting go of the reigns. It works.
by admin | Jan 5, 2020 | Letting Go
I was reminded again today of the power of surrender, that ceasing to struggle against what is, is freedom. When I surrender, I understand that all is well. I am open to thinking in a different way and that may be all that is required for peace and a return to joy.
When I start my day with a prayer to be shown God’s will for me, when I return my focus to seeking the wisdom of my true self, the place of divine love within, I can let go of my expectations and perceptions and remain open to seeing things differently. When I am willing to see things through divine eyes, I am free from fear.
Only practice and diligence will get me more often to the experience of grace in my life. Discipline is my start on that today. It is a journey of incremental steps and much learning. It is through the lessons that I grow. Bring them on!
by admin | Oct 30, 2019 | Letting Go
I was watching a drama set at the turn of the century in the northwest frontier. The schoolteacher was trying to manage a bully in her classroom. She told the boy who’d been pushed around that a bully is actually a frightened soul who doesn’t think much of himself and tries to take it out on others.
I thought of my boss. I know she has low self-esteem. It’s why she can’t care for anyone, can’t be genuine. She is afraid that people might see what she sees in herself. The tight grip on her image is top priority. It is a tough place to be.
Still, understanding that she is unhappy and stuck in her personal reality without authentic relationships or trust doesn’t make me less resentful when she belittles me. I shouldn’t still give her slights and barbs the time of day, yet they still sting. When I think of how little thought I will give her or the waste that has become my work when I am finished with this job, I know that this situation doesn’t matter. It is an opportunity for me to accept everyone as a child of God. It provides practice in remembering that everyone is doing the best she can. That I am as everyone else, but I can help the atmosphere of my workplace by bringing my love to it and letting go of the behavior of other people towards me. I am not responsible for what others think of me. I am responsible for what I think—of them and of me.
by admin | Sep 15, 2019 | Letting Go
Krishnamurti offered that truth. In ending my attachments to people, places and things both those that I love and those I dislike or fear, I have nothing to face, no ego I’m feeding, no fear of insecurity. Seeking security in the people and things of this world traps me in a dance of fear, a dance of constant motion and posturing, exhausting me of energy and joy. My fragile ego yearns to feel secure, yet tells me I need more, I am not enough, I may loose what I have. Funny how getting more only makes me realize that I need more. What!?! True and lasting joy and peace will be mine to the extent that I can let go of my ego’s cravings, my runaway thoughts and the desire to control what I cannot control. In severing my ties to the things and dramas of this world and diving under the surface of life, I make a beginning. I begin to understand my true nature and my oneness with all that I perceive.
by admin | Sep 12, 2019 | Letting Go
If I examine my growth in mindfulness, I think I can point to slowing down as an important contributing factor. Consciously slowing down involves deciding what I really need or want to do and letting go of the rest. I have always had problems “multi-tasking” and having too much to do causes anxiety. I can control the stress associated with my “to do” list my writing everything down. It doesn’t seem as insurmountable when it is down on paper, and I realize that some anxiety is fear of forgetting to do something I think is important. Slowing down means letting go of some of the compulsivity that drives me, the ingrained sense that I need to be doing something all the time or I am “wasting” time. It took some time to retrain my mind, but fear of wasting time is mostly gone now. What a relief it is, too.
Now I work towards planning to arrive places several minutes before I need to. The fear of wasting time had me planning just enough time to get there. I would do one more thing before starting out and then leave just a bit later than I needed to get there just on time and arriving a tad late and anxious for being late too. Not only does leaving more time allow me to arrive in a leisurely state of mind, it allows me a few minutes to do nothing—an art I’ve discovered. It has an additional benefit of showing respect for the people I’m meeting.
by admin | Jun 13, 2019 | Letting Go
Doing and accomplishing can be distractions for me to avoid delving into uncomfortable feelings in another area of my life. It works. Meanwhile, I do not feel what I need to feel. Being busy doesn’t allow me to be present with what is. I push it deep inside and pretend it is not there.
I don’t notice that I’m pushing away discomfort. It is as natural and automatic to me as breathing. I only see it when I am mindful or if I later introspectively explore my motives.
If I am not in a position to pause and let the feelings abide in my body and show me where I am, I can purposefully put them in a box and close the lid. I will pull them out when I can give them full attention. Then I can feel what I need to feel and not leave it stuffed.
In a quiet moment, I recall the situation and the sensations that my body felt in the moment will return to be experienced. I can sit with them, appreciate and acknowledge the thoughts that accompany them and the underlying fear. When I see my fear and my human struggle against it, I can more easily let it dissolve.
