The Art of Letting Go: Success with a Twist

You've gotta watch out for what you wish for ('cuz you very often get it). Today my heart is full of joy, hope and peace. And that doesn't come easy for me. I think I'm finally starting to learn something...

You Try Running Through a Brick Wall at 100mph: It Hurts

All my life, I've been one of these overly serious, stressed types who always tries to "make things happen," regardless of circumstances and others around me. I guess I just naively believed that I could bend the will of the universe to my own. Or, help others' will align with my own. Whatever. For most of you out there, this probably isn't any big newsflash, but I've come to a very rude awakening in the last few years. It just doesn't work. That is, just going after what you want, who cares about what anyone else thinks.

No matter how hard I tried, even with a healthy dose of willpower, determination and perseverance, things didn't always turn out the way I wanted. It drove me crazy and caused a lot of frustration, anger and lack of peace in my life.

The Art of Letting Go: Works Wonders--But Not So Easy

There have been a lot of books and courses on the internet in the last several years on this topic. One of the most well known is Hale Dwoskin's The Sedona Method (www.SedonaMethod.com), recommended by Jack Canfield, author of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series of books. In the Sedona Method, Hale focuses on something called 'the release technique,' which basically teaches you to let go.

There's a popular, well-known saying that goes, "Let go, let God." Alcoholics Anonymous popularized the Serenity Prayer: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." (I think I got that one right). In any case, these sayings, and a myriad of courses, books and probably most importantly, life circumstances have helped me to just 'go with the flow.'

Before I endure unwarranted ridicule, I want to be clear here. What I mean is, you don't have to just go through life like a limp rag, a victim of your circumstances and allowing people to take advantage of you. No. But consider this, why not try something different and watch how the stress in your life just disapears? It might surprise you.

When something comes up that upsets you, bothers you or isn't (at 1st glance) in your best interest, go through these simple steps:

1. Simply accept the circumstance. Say to yourself, "Though I may not like this ___ (circumstance), I accept it since I know that something good will come out of it."
2. "I choose to release this ___ (circumstance) right now and be at peace." Or, if you prefer, "God, I give this ___(circumstance) over to you now, and I receive your peace."
3. "I give thanks for this ___ (circumstance) and am open to receiving the good that will come to me through it." Or, "God I thank you for what you've allowed to occur here, and I thank you for the good that will come out of it in my life."

This simple exercise has worked wonders in my life. Granted, I still struggle, but I am amazed at how wonderfully life unfolds when you no longer force it to happen! Oh, and the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits aren't bad either.