How and why you need to let go
Today I had my husband put three big plastic bags in the trunk of my car. What’s this, he said. These are good clothes. I answered don’t bring anything out of those bags. It has taken me 10 years to let go of those clothes.
Letting go of things that no longer serve you is difficult to say the least and sometimes you don’t even know you are holding on to things that no longer serve you. There is an ancient Buddhist story that explains this so well.
Two traveling monks reached a town where there was a young woman waiting to step out of her sedan chair. The rains had made deep puddles and she couldn’t step across without spoiling her silken robes. She stood there, looking very cross and impatient. She was scolding her attendants. They had nowhere to place the packages they held for her, so they couldn’t help her across the puddle.
The younger monk noticed the woman, said nothing, and walked by. The older monk quickly picked her up and put her on his back, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other side. She didn’t thank the older monk; she just shoved him out of the way and departed.
As they continued on their way, the young monk was brooding and preoccupied. After several hours, unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. “That woman back there was very selfish and rude, but you picked her up on your back and carried her! Then she didn’t even thank you!
“I set the woman down hours ago,” the older monk replied. “Why are you still carrying her?”
5 things that will help you let go
1. Letting go doesn’t mean you are saying a situation or behavior is ok when it isn’t. Letting go is about lightening your energy load. When you let go of what is bothering you set yourself free and get to reclaim new energy for you.
2. Your mind will lift from a cloud when you let go of grudges are angry and hurt feelings. The next thing will be when you discover the best you can be.
3. You don’t need how to let go you just need to be willing. The past is the past and you can learn from the past on how to change as you go forward.
4. When you run up against something that is hard to let go of. It is probably what you need to let go the most.
5. Letting go usually involves some form of forgiveness or acceptance. Remember that you are the one who is probably hurting about the situation more than anyone else.