Letting Go February 16, 2009
Posted by Geoffrey Wilson in : Health Tips, Meditations , trackbackLetting go is a term we often hear with the frequency of a catchphrase used to convey a sense of something important. It is officially part of our language now and is not restricted to the mumbo jumbo of professionals who might refer to it as if it were a body part.
Letting go is actually a process. It is not a thing. Nor is it an achievement. You don’t become something else when you let go but rather you engage in a process of shedding your proverbial skin. Of course, the skin is on the outside of your body and letting go also pertains to the inside.
We tend to cling to our experiences, both the pleasurable and painful ones, and as such, we also develop memories which are stored in the muscles, in the bones, in the ligaments, in the joints, in the tendons, in the organs, as well as in the mind. Unfortunately, it is the memories, pleasurable or painful, which are then used to deal with the challenges we face in the present – and memories are never equipped to deal with the reality of now!
The past cannot really be used to deal efficiently with the present because ‘now’ is different to ‘then’. They may look the same, but they are different. In fact, the current challenge, the problem that we face right now, comes with a unique set of circumstances. We have never faced this set of circumstances before. We may think we have, but we haven’t. A closer inspection will reveal the truth of this.
Unless we can approach the problem with a clean sheet, as it were, free from the memories of what we did last time to solve the problem, the solution will be in adequate. So all we can do is surrender to the fact that an empty mind, free from the burden of expectation, free from the accumulation of memory, free from the pressure imposed by the past, is relaxed and as such, is free from the constraints of any kind.
According to the principles of Oriental medicine, the Colon channel shares a dynamic relationship with the Lung channel. The Colon takes care of the rubbish while the Lung takes care of nourishment. Our task then is to unravel the mystery surrounding this relationship and expose the pearls of wisdom that lie therein.
Letting go is a process. It means that you will have to make some adjustments to the way you think and behave. Not just on Sundays, but from moment-to-moment. Not just when it suits, but as a lifestyle. Not just because you are in pain, but because living is from moment-to-moment.
The adjustments you will need to make are a blend of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual modifications that regulate lifestyle and the way you think about the world, the people in the world, and the things that are happening in the world.
Physical adjustments are usually such things as exercises designed to enable you to release tension and relax on a deeper level. Tai Chi is renowned for this. So too is Qi Gong. Both share a common set of principles and structure that facilitate release, relaxation, and then lead to softness. The good news is that you don’t need to use your mind. Your mind has to empty before you can relax.
Emotional adjustments are usually such things as forming new habits (more appropriately called responses) that require you to avoid indulging in reactions to situations. For example, rather than buy into someone’s predicament, you listen but don’t jump straight in and try to be the hero (like rescuing someone from their fate).
Avoiding the indulgence is one thing. Not taking things personally is another. It requires much practice to conquer this one and you will need to be very disciplined. This is where hanging out with the right people helps. In the same way a business mentor supervises the new kid on the block, you might benefit from a mentor who can help to keep you on track.
Mental adjustments are probably the trickiest. This requires a brand new way of thinking about life, love, the Universe and so on. The first thing to do is learn to distinguish between facts and fantasy. A fact is the actual – what is actually happening. Fantasy is a non-fact. Fantasy is what you would like something to be. Therefore fantasy is the ideal. Fact and fantasy are polar opposites. One begins when the other ends.
The second thing to do when making mental adjustments, is stick to the facts. Do not waiver. This means you avoid getting caught up in the habit of thinking about wishes, wants, hopes, and dreams. If you stay clear of fantasy, reality is like a balm to a weary soul. With practice, you begin to rest in the arms of reality quite comfortably – not numb, but aware, awake and alive!
Spiritual adjustments are none other than deferring to spirit always. In other words, give the credit to spirit. Drop the ego. Find out if you can discover the truth about humility. If you can, you will uncover a secret that few will have a real opportunity to explore. Letting go is part of the equation.
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