Dear friends,
Today I’m writing about a topic I think is important for all of us: letting go.
There are so many things in our lives we try to control. We often believe that that ability to control something will give us a sense of comfort or safety. But it’s a false promise. Why?
Because in the act of trying to contol everything, we stress ourselves out.
The other day I got a powerful reminder that I need to let go of some things I’ve been holding onto for a while, trying to control. I need to stop fighting these battles and allow events to take their natural course.
I didn’t like being reminded. I was angry, agitated, even confused.
But then I remembered: who am I helping by holding onto something that isn’t working and hasn’t been working for quite a while? The answer: nobody.
So I let go.
The result? An immediate, HUGE sense of relief. Ease. Comfort. All the things I’d been seeking by trying to control it. Yet another of life’s ironies. Our fears drive us to grab on tight and try to steer things. But if we summon just a bit of courage (or maybe a lot) and let go more often, we end up doing much better.
It’s important for me to add that “letting go” doesn’t mean you don’t care anymore. It also doesn’t mean you don’t take any action to try to make things better. It just means you stop fighting and controlling and trying to force things.
Over to you for the challenge.
To ease, freedom, courage.
I started indoor rock climbing about 2 and a half years ago.
One particular climber that I admired at my gym said: “be careful dude, if you hang on too long, you won’t be able to plan your landing right, let go while you still have some energy left”.
I wish I remembered his name.
…yet another insightful contribution. You provide a very tangible example of this principle in action, and of some of the negative consequences of not letting go soon enough.