Let go… A Little

If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.” ~Ajahn Chah

Eckhart Tolle believes we create and maintain problems because they give us a sense of identity. Perhaps this explains why we often hold onto our pain far beyond its ability to serve us. We replay past mistakes over and over again in our head, we cling to frustration and worry about the future, we hold stress in our minds and bodies, potentially creating serious health issues, and eventually accept that state of being as the norm. There will never be a time when life is simple. Every moment is a chance to let go and feel peaceful.

Here are some ways to get started:

• Change your perception—see the root cause as a blessing in disguise.

• Cry it out - crying releases harmful chemicals that build up in your body due to stress.

• Use meditation or yoga to bring you into the present moment (instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future).

• Engage in a physical activity. Exercise decreases stress hormones and increases endorphins, chemicals that improve your state of mind.

• Express your feelings through a creative outlet, like blogging or painting or learn a new skill.

• Take responsibility. Focus on what you can do to make things better.

• Remind yourself there are only three options to any situation: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it. These acts create happiness; holding onto never does.

• Remember both the good and the bad. Even if appears this way now, the past was not perfect. Acknowledging this may minimize your sense of discontent.

• Replace irrational emotional thoughts with facts from credible sources.

• Metaphorically release it. Write down all your stresses and toss the paper into a recycle bin.

• Laugh it out. Research shows that laughter soothes tension, improves your immune system, and even eases pain. If you can’t relax for long, start with just ten minutes watching a funny video on YouTube.

🙏🏼 Namaste, K.