Letting Go

Have you ever noticed that as we walk through life, we become a type of magnet, attracting others and their baggage? As we walk through life, our minds become filled with the ghostly voices of the present and past, the people who’ve told us who we are, what we’re supposed to be, what is right and wrong, shaping our character and values. These become the labels that surround the authentic self.

It can be difficult to recognize these labels, to identify where they come from, and even harder to begin to let them go. In a logical manner, who would want to hold on to the dysfunctional self defeating labels, habits, and people that divert us from our life direction? Oh, but if emotions and patterns were of a logical clothe, it would be so easy, yet they are not, and their weave runs deep into our souls. It’s as if these labels become who we feel we are, and letting them go can cause much fear, anxiety, and frustration.

Letting go is a nice phrase, which appears simple and is yet quite difficult. Maybe it’s the way we view letting go, from a fear perspective, from a view of losing part of who we are. What if we were to look at letting go as a way to empower ourselves, to become what God has created us to be. I encourage you, my friend and reader, to look at letting go in a different manner, perhaps in the following ways.

To “let go” does not mean to stop caring, it means I can’t do it for someone else. To “let go” is not to cut myself off, it’s the realization I can’t control another. To “let go” is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. To “let go” is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To “let go” is not to try to change or blame another, it’s to make the most of myself. To “let go” is not to care for, but to care about. To “let go” is not to fix, but to be supportive. To “let go” is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being. To “let go” is not to be protective, it’s to permit another to face reality. To “let go” is not to deny, but to accept.

To “let go” is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them. To “let go” is not to adjust everything to my desires but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it. To “let go” is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future. To “let go” is to fear less and love more.

So I suppose to let go is to become, to grow, to move from survival to living, to be as God has created you to be. I encourage you, my reader and friend, to re-read the above paragraphs, choose 1 statement at a time, and begin to let go, to Let God, to be you, as He created you to be. Have fun, and discover your true self.


(The writings in this post are random thoughts and observations and are NEVER intended as professional or personal advice. Take what works and leave the rest. For information on mental health and/or substance abuse help, visit http://www.rodneyvalandra.com and refer to the links page.)