Twenty tips for letting go
By Nancy B. Loughlin
Published in News Press on October 31, 2016
If I’m angry, it’s not advisable for anyone to say,” Just let it go.”
I’ll let go when I’m ready even though I’m always ready.
The challenge is how.
Twenty Tips for Letting Go
- Pivot.
While my baggage screams, I amplify other areas of my life such as volunteerism, artistic endeavors, educational goals, a new sport or exercise program.
The new noise will drown out the old.
2. Make amends.
If I’m holding shame, I contact the person (people) I harmed. I ask for forgiveness.
If this is impossible without causing more harm to myself or others, I make a “living amends” and vow to never engage in that behavior again.
3. Burn a bridge.
I write to the person who harmed me and state my case. I don’t always mail it or press send, but sometimes I do. What difference does it make?
4. Reframe.
I separate a piece of paper into two columns. On the left, I list all my personality flaws, ghosts and mistakes trapping me in myself. Then, in the right column, I turn every negative into a positive.
5. Love the ghost.
When I cannot let go of past hurts, particularly painful relationships, this tells me I have yet to realize what I needed to learn. I can disarm the past if I accept it as a teacher rather than saboteur. I give the guest a name, train it to speak to me with love and listen to what it has to say.
6. Smudge.
I light a sage stick and spread the smoke around my home, particularly the windows and doorframes. The sage removes harmful bacteria and negative energy from my space and from me.
Then…
7. Work the crystals.
SW Florida Reiki master Meghan Pullaro suggests building a grid with four clear quartz crystals, pointing inward at north, south, east and west. Then, I lie down in the center of this grid, holding my stone of choice.
I breathe deeply and consciously to clear my mind before I say, “I release all burdens that no longer serve me and allow healing for my highest good.”
8. Burn it.
I write down the negativity I wish to release and crumple the paper into a ball. With my eyes closed, I thank life for the lessons and say, “I release you now.”
Then, I throw the paper into a fire pit and watch it burn.
9. Tune my vibration.
I visit a Reiki practitioner. According to Fort Myers Reiki master Shakti Barnhill, Reiki is channeling the cleansing Universal Life Force or Prana, and, regardless of belief, it works.
Better yet…
10. Rebirth.
With Barnhill, a rebirthing session is the conscious connected movement of physical energy and breathing techniques to encourage the “letting go of stuff.” Consider rebirthing the energy body’s return to factory settings.
11. Refuse to rant.
Complaining is the greatest addiction.
Instead, I shut up and sit down. With my eyes closed, I imagine a giant eraser starting at my crown erasing all the boundaries between myself and the universe. I visualize my ego shattering like fireworks.
12. I sit in my stuff.
While in Pigeon Pose, I surrender to the floor and resist the urge to fidget and distract myself from the opening of my hips. I accept what is and exhale it all.
13. Road trip.
I get in my car and drive. The more desolate the landscape, the better. I remind myself how enormous the world is.
14. Clean and purge the home.
I’m merciless with Goodwill donations. I empty the refrigerator, the attic, the garage. If it’s been broken, I toss it. All bad memories living in photos or journals are gone.
15. I tear myself from my roots.
I pack up and go someplace where I don’t know a soul and start over. I’ve done this twice.
16. Challenge the body.
I run a marathon (or down the street). I climb a mountain (or a tree). I fast for five days (or one). I remind myself what my body can do.
17. Tandem skydive.
I cut all my ties with earth and gravity and just freefall.
18. Work the hoop.
I have a copper hoop and several WonderWhirls. I step through one like a jump rope and envision the hoop cutting away all negative energy and memory.
19. Curse.
Yes. I repeat “f**k it” as many times as I want. Research proves it works.
20. Last resort…
When all else fails, I get a colonic and really let that stuff go.
