What do I need to let go of?

When you say, I Let Go, what are you saying you let go of? For many years, I have heard John F. Barnes recommend saying “I let go” while you are holding a stretch. I just figured this meant I let go of the tensions that I am holding. Clearly, as you say these words while holding a stretch, you do feel your body soften. I let go of everything that does not serve me well such as negative thoughts, letting the need for more drive my life, or I let go of the things in my life that aren’t in congruence with me. Then I began reading A Course in Miracles and I let go finally all came together. I let go of fear. I let go of the fear that I won’t or don’t have enough. I let go of the fear that I am not enough. I let go of the fear that holds me back. I let go of all the illusions that I have created in this world that cover up the beauty in everything, including me. That’s pretty deep how 3 words can make such a profound impact. I let go of trying to hold onto the things that I can’t, that’s called control. I let go of forcing something to happen. I let go of all the fear surrounding the things that I cannot control. 

Sounds like the Serenity Prayer to me. As I researched the prayer I realized there is more than just 3 lines and the following lines are just as powerful as the first 3 lines. 

Prayer for Serenity

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

                                            Reinhold Niebuhr

Close your eyes and imagine your world without fear. Imagine peace. It’s like seeing the world through the eyes of a well cared for baby. They have no fear. Fear is a learned process. If the people around you are afraid of the bear, so shall you be. We can unlearn fear if we allow ourselves to let go. We can replace this fear with faith in God that we are safe and all our needs will be provided for at the right time.

How do you do this? Let go of viewing things as good or bad. See them as events to propel us forward to a higher, more compassionate, wiser self just as the line in the poem says that we accept hardships as a pathway to peace. See the world through the eyes of love. Like the baby in a womb, have no fear. 

You will find that the more you let go of fear, the more balanced and harmonious your life will become. This is because your base of support is a solid foundation of love and understanding, not a wobbly surface of should I or shouldn’t I where decisions are made out of fear of the what-ifs. Wouldn’t it feel great to think clearly, make decisions and feel good about them? When you say I let go, you are saying I allow in all that is good. Your higher conscious and your soul know good. It is the conscious that instills illusions of fear from the events of the past.

Holding onto a railing walk forward. How does it feel? Holding on to a railing, walk backwords. How does that feel? When you focus on the past, you are walking backwards. It doesn’t feel secure and causes tension and fear. Walk forward. See what is ahead of you. Proceed forward without fear. Sometimes we need to let go of what is in the immediate present. Other times, it’s what is in the distant past. Whichever it is. Find peace. That is the ultimate goal. 

Voyage to HEAL Weekly Thoughts

Stretch: Pelvic rotations are a great way to balance the pelvis and gain that solid base of support and a firm foundation. Try laying in these two positions for 5 minutes each. Do whichever position is easiest first. If you do not have a rotated pelvis, you will not do any harm completing these stretches. You are just taking your pelvis through a range of motion as if stretching your calves. 

Note that you can place a pillow under your leg for more comfort.

Exercise: Of course for a solid foundation we need a solid core. For this one, I thought of belly dancing! Start by lifting each side of your pevlis up individually. Then roll your pelvis forward and then back on one side, then the other. Then try making a figure 8 in both directions with your pelvis. Small movements are just as powerful as big ones. Check out the video below for a demonstration. Don’t worry, I won’t be leaving my day job to take up belly dancing. 

Habitual change: Here’s where we are going to break the habit of crossing one foot or leg over the other. If you consistently sit with your legs crossed, start trying to sit in a symmetrical position for a short period of time. Gradually build up to crossing the other leg. At first, just become more aware of your sitting habits that may be driving your pelvic imbalances. 

Perspective Enlightenment: I Let Go. In this, stop complaining. I’ve read this in so many places about the power of not complaining because it just stirs up negative energy. So as you say, I let go conclude that with I let go of complaining. For a more positive shift say, “I allow myself to see the beauty in everything.” You’re call. Whatever is more powerful for you. 

This week’s post coincides with week #3 of the Voyage to HEAL: Balancing the Pelvis

Godspeed on your Voyage to HEAL.

Love, Jocelyn