1010: Letting Go

This week, I’m reading Stop Fixing Yourself by Anthony de Mello. It’s an easy yet deep read on accepting that all is well and that problems come from refusing to let go of attachments. It’s challenging because I can see the truth in it, but I want to argue that I am not attached; I simply stay close to things I need. 😉 

The actual truth is that we are all attached and cling to some things we need to let go of.

Letting go can be difficult. If our identity is linked to a person or thing, it has to be pried out of our hands. If our minds are consumed with a thought, it’s almost impossible to let it go. It’s like a tornado spinning in relentless fury.

How can we let go better?

I’m learning this from my wife, Marla. She retired in May after 26 years in education. She was a teacher, an assistant principal, and then a principal.

In one way, it was easy for her to let go because it was time. On the other hand, how do you let go when the last 9,496 days were wrapped in the lives of children and their parents?

“But she had summers off!”

You’d think that, but my experience is that her mind rarely left the job. I think that is true for a lot of educators. Weekends are hard to enjoy because there are calls from parents or events to attend or substitutions to be made for teachers who will be out.

In this transition, she can let go because she is making substitutions. She is replacing her work schedule with a work and growth schedule. Marla has…

• Starting to read and apply Julia Cameron's The Artist Way helps her let go of academics and focus on the creative.

• Morning Pages help her let go of stress.

• Every Tuesday, she has an Artist Date with herself, which helps her let go of feeling like she must accomplish something.

• Every Wednesday, we try a new local restaurant for lunch.

• Every Thursday, she cleans out some clutter from the house.

Letting go involves picking something else up with the intention of personal and spiritual growth.

Christ Consciousness on Letting Go:

Paul writes this to the Philippians in chapter 2:

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a servant and was born as a human being.

I find it hard to let go of things that I feel are important, make me look good, or would replace me in a high position. Yet, Christ let go of equality - the highest position.

With the consciousness of Christ, we humble ourselves. We lower ourselves from prominence and let go of privilege and personal identity. We let go of the things blocking the Divine within us.

Maybe you are holding onto a thought. Maybe you are replaying an event over and over. Maybe you are clinging to a relationship or a job. Maybe you find yourself gripping a belief you’re afraid of living without. Maybe it’s donuts or Little Debbie snacks!

Find a comfortable sitting spot and ask Spirit, “What do I need to let go of?”

Write down anything that comes to you.

Then pray and ask for the power to let go.

This simple act of awareness, combined with a humble ask, will realign and center you. You will feel what is truly important in life rise to the top.

Blessings!

Paul

Did you receive this as an email forwarded from a friend? Please join the 1010 Life Letter Here.