Letting Go

One of those "new age" terms that people love to toss around, but a very valuable tool when you're having to face those pesky transitional periods in your life. That place in your head that continues to store an accumulation of denials and avoidances, which after a while will only drive you nuts if they are not addressed or resolved in some way. You may have found a secret hiding place where no one will find them.....swept under the rug....in the back of the closet...... on the back burner...etc.....whatever is most convenient for you....and for the most part able to label them...."out of sight, out of mind." But of course after so long, they manage to make their way back into your conscious thinking, a gentle tapping on your shoulder......I'm still here......need to be dealt with.....denial levels are at a dangerous level. You've been successful at stashing them in your secret place for years, but unfortunately there is a lump in the middle of the room, or a closet door that won't close any longer forcing you to see that something has to change. So the term "letting go" seems more appealing right about now.....true?

I know...easier said than done. for all the stuff, either emotional, physical, or things that you've accumulated over the years that are starting to just take up space will require something of you in order to let go. It will require dicipline, setting priorities, time and courage,which most often carry with them, grieving, loss, sadness, reality and the most profound and hardest to fathom....acceptance. If any of this sounds a bit overwhelming and leaves a bad taste in your mouth, you're not alone. I have seen many people who can't even get close to thinking about letting go of anything in their life, for that would involve change of some kind. Not only change of circumstances......but change of heart, mind and spirit. After all, if you take away those things, something will happen........you might feel better.

"Letting go" is more about recognizing your need to control something, or thinking that you are in control of something. It involves another word that I haven't mentioned yet.....but I'm sure you realize is coming........FEAR. Ah yes........fear. You ask yourself....what do I have to be afraid of? Well let's see.....theres getting old, getting sick, dying, being abandoned by someone you thought loved you and would never leave you, and realizing that you will never be perfect or get everything right in this life. Oh yes, or believing that you will never make a mistake or make a bad decision. Well......I don't know about you, but I'm thinking it's time to go to my trusty places of denial again today and do some cleaning.

Now if you are well, you have the ability to collect or tuck things away for alot longer than if you're sick. You also have the strength and energy to continuously move things around either in your head, in your home, or in your secret stash of issues.......like a magician. You take inventory each week to see if you can feasibly pile on more, taking pride in your ability to do so. Like Scarlett O'hara.....I won't think about that today....I'll think about that tomorrow mentality. Well, hey......how's that working for you so far? So...I take my hat off to the ones who are well and have the energy to juggle.

Of course there is a pickle hidden in this message. You might be one of the lucky ones, who can hide, juggle, disguise and manipulate your "stuff", so you seemingly roam about the world functioning in a normal capacity, but after a while, it will have it's day, and will most likely show up in ways that are not so appealing. Stress of carrying things around or keeping them hidden or being in denial of, will start to effect your body in some way. Reality WILL set in at some point and you may not be in a position physically or emotionally to cope with the end results........illness.

Letting go can be a good thing. It may take some work on your part, but if you know that something good is at the end of clearing out your stash thats hidden, like true peace, joy, happiness, contentment, energy and the abilty too see that it does more harm to hang on so tight to things when our time here on earth is not permanent...then the journey that's left will be so much more enjoyable.