letitgo.ca

This  site aims to provide images and words that inspire a letting go to a larger whole; to something deeper, richer and higher than we usually think we are. Constriction and resistance can be let go of with some very simple techniques, releasing ourselves to a place of calm clarity, unfiltered by preconceptions, ego, habit and cultural bias. This open and free awareness is our natural state. We don’t need to add any new knowledge or information. When we let go of artificial limitations what remains is open, spacious, easeful and intelligent.

Letting go is a necessary ability for little things that come up during the day, like frustration with traffic, and for the big things; work, relationships, financial stresses. How many traffic, household and work related accidents have occurred because someone was wrestling with the past instead of just being present? Letting go is a natural ability that we use all the time. Every intake of breath must be released to allow room for the next intake. Similarly we can release unhelpful feelings, beliefs, habits and thoughts so we can respond fully and appropriately to the present circumstances rather than just react unconsciously out of habit or fear. We can learn to actively release so we can actually show up for our lives and live openly and fully rather than carrying around a suit of armor and heavy headful of preconceptions and habitual responses.

Releasing is natural and we all know how to do it but we have come to believe that we need to hold on to things that we want, and to push away things that we don’t want, which is also a kind of holding on. We believe that this is normal. But if we look at how this really works it becomes clear that holding on and pushing away doesn’t actually work; holding on actually prevents us from having the things we want: how much can you hold in a grasping fist? Letting go makes room for  more of what we really want to create in our lives. We gain a clarity on how to deal with the practical issues of life, and we are able to see the peace of mind, joy and love that is always here, now.

Letting go is not an intellectual exercise. It is a lived experience. It is not about believing anything or believing “in” anything. It is a simple process of directing our attention and awareness to unconscious, unhelpful and untrue beliefs. It is a direct, unfiltered seeing from our own experience. We learn to notice when we are holding on to memories as if they are still here. We see that when we resist and push back against things we don’t want, we only strengthen them and give them more energy and life, reducing our own precious life energy.

Releasing is a direct method of dealing with unhelpful beliefs, unhealthy habits and unhappy feelings. Our bodies won’t let us hold on to a breath for very long (notice how we do hold our breath sometimes when we feel stressed.) However, our minds are able to hold on, sometimes usefully, to deal with a complex practical situation, but often the mind holds on out of fear and insecurity, locking us into a cycle of holding on to a painful situation and a feeling of being helpless and trapped. 

When we stop holding on to unconscious fears and ingrained habits of thought we are able to see clearly and act appropriately for the present circumstances. This is true for the little things like reacting defensively or with anger to some small perceived slight. It is also true for making big life changing decisions. We need to see clearly in order to respond in the best  way to the present circumstances and letting go is all about dropping things that interfere with clear seeing and effective action. 

We can easily learn and practice simple processes that help us let go of unhelpful feelings and thoughts and beliefs that are interfering with our natural abilities to respond fully to life. We can let go of unconscious programs that are running us such as unexamined beliefs, old habits, unnamed fears and endless desires. These unconscious programs surface in various ways as we go through our daily lives. When they do we can use simple methods to let them go on the spot. As we let them go they lose their power over us and their ability to derail and hijack our lives and energy. We are able to live full on, wide open. Letting go  opens us up to true creativity and the ability to see clearly so that we can more effectively realize our highest potential.

When we effectively let go of our emotions and thoughts, we are no longer totally identified with thoughts and feelings. We are more reliable. How we respond to current situations isn’t dependent on how we feel at that particular moment of time. When we let go of identification with our feelings and thoughts we  are not being run by them behind the scenes.

We are able to see our biases as well as well as our tendencies to just look for confirmation for what we already believe or rationalizations for what we already want to do or have done.

We are able to see more clearly, with less distortion.  We have a greater ability to respond to current circumstances more appropriately. We have more response- ability in the sense of being more able and capable. 

Successful people share this skill; the ability to make decisions clearly without holding on to personal preferences or desires or fears. They make decisions based on the facts and a clear goal. Then they let the chips fall where they may. They have learned how to let go of unhelpful bias.

The nature of the world is change.  When something negative comes up we usually want to push it away. But when we push something away we only strengthen it. We give it energy and make it sticky; we make it stay.  If we simply allow it, notice it and let it be what it is it can pass through our experience. 

A release to try:

We can exercise the letting go muscle very easily throughout the day. Anytime you can take a minute or 5 just allow yourself to be, and be. Say to yourself – for this brief period of time I am just going to be aware of my body, the feeling of air moving through mouth and nose, the pressure of the seat on my behind, the sensations of my skin. When a thought or a feeling or story or anything comes up just gently release it, simply let it pass. If it is a little persistent we can tell the thought that we will come back to it later, but for now, we are enjoying a holiday from thought. Do this as much as you like during the day. You will find it much more refreshing and relaxing and helpful than the usual compulsive thinking that we do in between activities. You will find your thought processes have been refreshed by the little vacation.

Your guide to letting go, Michael McPherson:

I am a retired photographer and full time student of life who enjoys facilitating freedom from some of the unhelpful feelings, thoughts and beliefs that arise in life.  I believe that freeing ourselves from old unhelpful patterns is key to coming up with creative solutions to our current issues. I have a passionate interest in this central aspect of human experience, as meditation and releasing have greatly expanded my capacity for a richer and more meaning full life. What I am offering has been gleaned from many different teachers and teachings that have graced my life. I share  this material in the hopes it may be helpful or useful to others, and as a way to further my own learning and understanding.

Michael McPherson