Letting go is the opposite of grasping and clinging to what we want.
Instead,
We learn to let go of the need to always be pursuing desires or pushing away aversions,
The urge to control uncontrollable external and internal circumstances,
And we allow our experience to be as it is in the moment.
Letting go is necessary for acceptance,
Which in turn is necessary for deep,
Deep change in our lives.
When we can learn to stop holding on to things,
And instead allow experience to simply arise and pass on its own,
We can free up energy to attend to how things really are.
We make space to consider wisely,
Rather than getting caught up in acting or reacting purely out of emotion or blind habit.
And in this way,
Letting go is not giving in or giving up,
It is letting be.
Find your way into your comfortable position.
You could be seated or lying down.
If it feels comfortable for you,
You can close the eyes or lower the gaze
and take a few deep breaths,
Allowing the body to relax and settle here.
With attention focused on the breath,
Notice the sensation of the breath entering the body.
Just observe where you notice the sensation of breath most vividly.
Perhaps the abdomen or the chest or the nose.
Notice how thoughts and feelings come into your awareness and then go.
Maybe replaced by another thought.
Having thoughts coming and going through your mind is normal.
You don't need to change or fix anything about those thoughts.
Your thoughts aren't part of you,
And they aren't permanent.
As you observe your thoughts,
You might even start to develop the sense that you're just noticing your thoughts as they float by.
Coming in and then going out.
The practice of letting go means coming to terms with the fact that both good things and bad things are a constant in our lives.
Our experiences and conditions are always shifting and changing.
By practicing to accept things as they are in this moment,
We can learn to detach from spending time resisting or wishing things were a different way.
Letting go means accepting that you will experience negative emotions and bad things from time to time.
Allowing those feelings to be present without needing to fix or change anything about them.
Our emotions can be messengers and they protect us and guide us to make decisions in our lives.
You might bring to mind a thought or feeling,
Something that has felt negative or difficult or challenging in your life recently.
Noticing how that feels in your body.
Noticing any thoughts that come along with that emotion.
Becoming aware if that emotion is guiding you or protecting you in any way.
And knowing that it's okay not to have the answer.
If there are any painful or really difficult thoughts or feelings that you notice and they just won't go,
You can always choose to bring attention back to the breath and focus on the simple rise of your chest and belly as you breathe in.
And the physical relaxing of the body as it lets go of the breath.
Our breath is one of the best reminders we have of the practice of letting go.
We must release one breath before a new breath can begin.
Each exhale reminds us that we know how to let go.
It allows us to release the good and the bad.
When we let go,
We create space.
And in this space there is freedom for something new to be created.
As you continue to breathe in stillness for a few final moments here,
Allow the ease and peace that comes from acceptance to fill the body and mind.
Take a moment to acknowledge yourself for making the time to practice letting go and giving yourself the gift of space.
