So often we have heard our friends say, “Okay, it’s time to let it go.”
And we have all replied with a similar answer, “I know, but how?”
Today we’re going to learn the ART of Letting Go!
First let’s talk about what you're Letting Go from.
A bad relationship.
A bad decision.
A failed business.
Negativity.
And amazingly, sometimes we have to let go of some great accomplishment from twenty years ago that we have never been able to move on from and has stopped us from expanding or growing.
So, why can’t you let go?
I’m going to cut to the chase and tell you that there is one word here that underlines it all. That word is “trust.”
Not of others, but of yourself.
“I made a mistake.”
“I screwed it up.”
“I’ll never get it right.”
“That person tried to destroy me and I’ll never forgive them.”
“I have allowed myself to fall in love with the wrong person!”
I think we can all agree that this is not a great place to live and my heart goes out to you if this is what you are experiencing.
So, let’s start with a major barrier that seems to get in the way of Letting Go.
Emotion versus Logic.
Yes, you know you need to let go, but maybe it is your heart that is keeping you from doing it.
Q. Does your heart want you to be miserable? If you said "Yes", should you listen to it?
Q. Does your logical thinking want you to be happy? If you said, "Yes", then should you be listening to it?
I'll let you think about that for a moment.
Now, the real question is not how do I let go, but how do I trust myself again? How do I trust my heart again?
We talk about loving ourselves, but do we ever talk about trusting ourselves?
Well, let’s find out how we can rebuild that trust in ourselves so we can Let Go!
Step 1. From what are you letting go?
Take a look at your situation and see it exactly for what it is.
Confront what is going to happen when you let go?
Discover exactly what it is that scares you.
Are you listening to your heart or your logical thinking? Which one wants you to be happy?
See with clarity the road to happiness.
Make the decision that Letting Go is the right choice.
Now that you have done this you are ready for the next step.
Step 2. Decide what it is that you really want.
Start by writing down your best possible life.
Get into the details. You don’t want a broad stroke here. You want to look into the corners. If you’re stuck, what you’re looking for here is freedom. Like writer, Paul Auster said, “The truth of the story lies in the details.” And we all know that truth will set you free.
Step 3: Now, we get to visit one of my favorite words in the whole world, “Responsibility.”
At this point you must be willing to take responsibility for the wrong choice or mistake or great accomplishment. You must squeeze out of it all that you brought to the table that created your situation – every single ounce. Leave nothing on the table.
Then, if there was any other person involved, you must decide what they brought to the table. What did they contribute? How are they involved? Squeeze every single ounce of their responsibility - good and bad out of the situation. Now this is important. Allow them to be responsible for their part. This is where the door to freedom is opened and you can make the break. Leave the job. End the relationship, etc. MAKE THE DECISION TO LET GO.
Remember as Tab says, “Letting go is not just for you; it’s for the other person too.” Laven
Step 4: Now, get out there and create the life you want to live. The life you defined in Step Two. Your long term success of Letting Go relies on this step.
Give yourself two weeks of living life in this new way. Will it flow naturally? Most likely not because you will be running into habits, routines and thoughts that you are changing.
Just remember, we are all here for you. We want you to be free. We want you to let go and live! You can do it!
Now to ensure your success:
YOU MUST COMMIT TO THE LIFE YOU WANT.
YOU MUST LIVE THE LIFE AS YOU DEFINED IT.
LIVE IT FOR TWO WEEKS. IT’LL GET A BIT EASIER.
LIVE IT ANOTHER TWO WEEKS. IT’LL GET EASIER.
LIVE IT ANOTHER TWO WEEKS. Ahhhh.
Step 5: Now, infuse all that is wonderful about you into this new life. (This is the high end of letting go. Allowing yourself to be the best you also includes this idea of letting go.)
You will naturally let go, because this is the place of ARTISTRY. ARTISTRY is freedom and freedom is being able to trust yourself.
WONDERFUL!
The hardest thing is to recognize and acknowledge that which needs to be let go of. And then, to just let go of that red balloon.