Reflections: Letting Go…
“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” Oprah Winfrey
Reflections: Letting Go…
Let go. Why do you cling to pain? There is nothing you can do about the wrongs of yesterday. It is not yours to judge. Why hold on to the very thing which keeps you from hope and love? Leo Buscaglia
What are we holding onto? Are we even aware of what is holding us back? My spin teacher always reminds us to breathe… Right in the middle of class, as we spin away, lost in our own reverie, her voice cuts through the air, interrupting our thoughts… “Breathe! Breathe! Don’t forget to breathe!” Invariably, I find myself laughing, as everyone in the class, including me, takes a deep, gulping breath. We marvel at how well she knows us. But it is our nature to hold on to our stuff and, from time to time, with some awareness or a reminder, we let go of our baggage … and, like an eagle, we can soar.
“Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.” Raymond Lindquist
Reflections: Letting Go…
Reflections: Letting Go…
The key is to be able to live, let go, and soar in a regular rhythmic way. And that takes conscious practice. If we are constantly bogged down by petty annoyances, we must work to change how we react to them. Some use affirmations, meditations, prayers, or other visual or mental practices to move things along. A great teacher once said that everyday, we must ask ourselves: What must I let go of today and how can I serve? This week, what do we hope to let go?
let it go by e. e. cummings
let it go – the
smashed word broken
open vow or
the oath cracked length
wise – let it go it
was sworn to go
let them go – the
truthful liars and
the false fair friends
and the boths and
neithers – you must let them go they
were born to go
let all go – the
big small middling
tall bigger really
the biggest and all
things – let all go
dear
so comes love
MORE BELOW!
“Think about any attachments that are depleting your emotional reserves. Consider letting them go.” Oprah Winfrey
Reflections: Letting Go…
Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it’s all over. Gloria Naylor
Just like we all remember Nike’s refrain, “Just Do It!,” we remember the refrain to – Just let it Go… However, it is not always easy to drop it or let “it” go. We have to be ready, willing and able to take that leap. It might even take some blood letting, some pain, to force us to take the leap. Soliciting the help and advice of those we respect, imagining a future free of the burden, and having a game plan on what we plan to replace the old stuff with helps. Above all, we must ACT! We must be vigilant to Let Go of the old tapes and ACT. What about you? What are your thoughts? Why are you holding onto stuff? When do you plan to let it go? What good is it serving you right now? What impact might it have on your life? Do share! Thank you. 😉
*Please bear with me as I continue to catch up on your blogs and commenting… Thank you all for your patience! 🙂
Positive Motivation Tip: Let go of the past and embrace the future with greater and better possibilities.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All photos Soaring bird, Blood letting, via Wikipedia and/or Letting Go by Vijay Gunda, via Flickr
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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Thank you for this… very timely post for me personally..
Thank you Helen. I needed the advice myself as I have to begin clearing out our space. TY! Have a great week. 🙂
I don’t know the ee cummings poem, so thanks!
I’m ready to pack my bags…!(not literally!)
I woke up feeling this need…and here you spoke of it…
I bet your insight quite amazes yourself sometimes…
~mkg
This is closely related to forgiveness. Super post Elizabeth!
I think I’m pretty good at getting rid of stuff, but I probably hold on a bit too long to the emotional stuff. It’s a work in progress. One day at a time, one breath at a time.
I needed this post today after Mother’s Day. Thank you for reminding me to BREATHE! Happy Monday!
Sometimes letting go is easier said than done. Although, I think as we get older, it gets easier as we begin to realize first hand, there is no purpose in holding on to the past, or to damning emotions that won’t let us find peace, etc. Age does have its benefits. 😉 Have a great week ahead!
Thank you for this post! 🙂
I’m in the middle of a lot of letting go at the moment. It’s freeing once you allow yourself to do it.
Thanks Elizabeth.
b
Thanks for the ee cummings poem, not sure if I ever read that one. It’s perfect, just what I needed to read today! 🙂
Thanks Liz, I really needed to read this post. Take care love.
It is definitely time to let go. Thanks for the reminder. Miriam
Let go of the past and embrace the future – not easy, Eliz …
Letting go requires courage and do well to remind us. I love e e cummings by the way
Sometimes it is just so hard to let go because we are afraid of what people might think, but often it is purely for our best. I used to never let go of my feelings and I’m paying for it when the blow comes back harder than ever. Beautiful post!
Letting go and change are so intertwined. Both are sometimes just so ingrained that it’s hard to do. Other times we don’t even realize we resist, but we do. What a thoughtful post. You made me really reflect today and for that, I thank you, my friend! 🙂
Letting go…sounds so easy but whew, thanks for the reminder 🙂
Thanks, needed this words. Refreshing
Exquisite thoughts to relect on. A lovely presentation on a variety of thoughts. I have not seen quotes from Leo Buscaglia since I was in my mid 20’s. Thanks for reminding me of him. I may have to pull out a book I have of his.
Lovely ….
Isadora
It is not always easy letting go, but such a relief once it has been done. 🙂 Great post, and very true post! Thank you for the reminder Eliz.
Reblogged this on Milenanik3's Blog and commented:
Letting go isn’t easy but when You read this post You’ll have a hope for doing it..
I’ve always believed more so in the quote that the balance in life depends on letting go and hanging on. Yes, we need to let go of certain negativities in our past, but at the same time, we need not forget these bad situations in our past that challenge us to do better.
Letting go is not always easy, and in my opinion and experience, usually takes more than someone telling us to let go. It depends on what the situation is that one is trying to let go. But sometimes it just has to feel right, whether it’s through the process of hearing your inner voice, or hearing the right words/quote at the right time, seeing the right thing at the right time, etc. that just evokes a feeling of “yes, I can let go now – it feels right, and it’s time.” If it doesn’t feel right to let go, it may keep coming back.
Thank you for sharing.. This post definitely spreads a lot of positivity!
I chuckled at how your spin teacher yelled to BREATH, becuase I caught myself holding my breath as a read though! Also, im myself I notice this almost addiction to being in the discomfort of ‘not letting go’ almost as if we’d rather not be free.
great post my friend! i need to do a better job at letting go!
Such an interesting read. Sometime it is hard to let go but we have too, to move forward.
Letting go can be so hard. I am struggling with that now. How do you let go of the family you always thought you would have? I know I can’t have it, my husband just up and left, but I have been struggling to let go of the idea I always thought we would have together.
I designed a golden ring with those exacts words on it. Let go. It serves as a reminder to do so and be free. It’s helped me, I am a visual type.
I wish I could say I have let go of so many different things. I end up holding on to way too many fears in my life from hurts past. That is what holds me back more than anything else.
We all need to learn to let go sometimes. It’s isn’t always easy but it helps us develop and remove negativity from our lives.
I really enjoyed reading this. Letting go is rather difficult bit I will be honest that it can be just as “easy” as you have shared. It is about resetting our minds, breathing and truly getting back in touch with our true inner self. That’s what works for me though, anyways. Loved reading this.
Love that Oprah quote! I struggle with always looking to the future and forgetting to live in the present. Really enjoyed this post. -Tonya Tardiff
Throughout the week I will reflect on the calming words you shared: “The key is to be able to live, let go, and soar in a regular rhythmic way. And that takes conscious practice.”
Sometimes letting go is so hard, but when we do its like removing that heavy feeling. Sometimes we need to let go that anchor so that we can sail properly.
I completely agree with this perspective. Letting go is so key to moving on and being at peace. Not always easy, but its the best mindset to have for healthy mental health!
I guess I’m still holding onto some anger and pain from my childhood. I see a therapist, but it’s so hard to let go. I guess I feel like if I let it go, it would be saying that what happened to me never happened or it somehow makes what did happen to me okay. I’m working very hard on healing those wounds though so hopefully I’ll get there one day.
Throughout the week I will reflect on your words of wisdom, “The key is to be able to live, let go, and soar in a regular rhythmic way. And that takes conscious practice.
Aaaahhhhhh….I let it go, at the beginning of this year and I must say, I’m having a much better ride of life, Elizabeth!
Thanks for sharing and asking.
This is so true! I really enjoyed reading your post! It is very motivational! I wish Letting go was easier but it is so much healthier when you do!
I really needed this post. Thank you for this but.. Letting go is so hard. I want to let it go but my heart.. It doesn’t.
Letting go of things is sometimes the best thing that we can do for ourselves. Harboring feelings for things gone on in the past can do more harm than good.
Hi Elizabeth!
It’s been a while that I have not dropped by your blog. As usual your post is very inspiring. I agree that we need to let go of things holding back our personal development, of things that take away from our happiness. It is not easy to let go but it is liberating once you take the courage to do so.
How are you doing? Glad to see you here!
Thank you! I need to hear this today. I am now a fan. Your posts are something that I can relate to that it seems you are talking to me. Appreciate it so much.
Letting go is so hard, I know that from experience. I found it very hard to let go of the hurt from my past when any marriage ended, but impossible to let go of my friend when my son died.
I’ve learned that if we let go of the small stuff, it gets easier to let go of the bigger stuff. I’m learning to be UN|offendable, one breath at a time. Lovely post.
A beautiful quote from Oprah and this is such an important topic as well. For me personally, I find letting go the most difficult and I do struggle a lot with it and moving on. For me, time helps.
Letting go is sometimes necessary, but it certainly doesn’t make it any easier. Such a great post and definitely gave me something to think about.
I forget how important it is to stop and look around. Take a breathe and enjoy life.
This feels very personal to me. It’s so hard to let go of the things in my life that hold me back, but when I do, I am liberated.
it is hard to let go but once you move on, it is very liberating 🙂 it is important to focus on the future.
I actually saw someone who can’t let go and live in pain. It is really heart pain to see them suffer from such situation. To be able to let go is not an easy process. I hope this post can be reached to more people and help more people to understand.
I’ve learn that there is a time to let things go and then there is a time to let people go. I’ve had to both and I’ve had to walk away from family members to gain peace.
I’ve been really struggling to move on and let go of something personal recently and this has made me feel a little better tonight. Thank you!
The past is really difficult to forget. But yes, I agree that letting go makes us go forward in the future.
Letting go is important! It’s also hard but it’s very freeing. I have a few things I need to let go also. Thanks for the reminder!
Was just having a conversation with my friend about this! It’s so important to know when to let go of dead weight, toxic situations, etc. Great post.
We have no other choice other than to let go since we cannot look backward and walk forward all at the same time
You are so right in saying we need to breathe and let go but its really hard as sometimes its hard to let go of hurt that ‘s built up inside for along time.
Beautiful article. Sometimes letting go is the best but the most difficult option!
Fauzia
I feel like people hold on because forgiving and letting go appears to be more difficult than it is. When we let go, we free ourselves from the negative energy and begin to grow as a stronger individual.
At 43, I have to learned to let go of some of the things of my past. I am now reflecting more as I am celebrating my birthday this Friday. 🙂
There are some things I wish I could let go. But I don’t know what to do after letting go. Perhaps if there’s a route for me to go after letting go? It’s tiring to hold on… to be the only one holding on~