Letting Go of Old Ways (Visualization)
Do you aspire to the kind of change that will take your life in a new and vibrant direction? The short answer is likely “yes”. Every human being is motivated by the desire for a better life.
Yet, perhaps you fear change, resist it, even dread it. Most of us do. We sometimes want to hold on to our “old ways” even when we know that “something has to change” in order for us to be more at peace in our heart.
When we hold on to outdated and ineffective ways of being and doing, our mind learns to stay stuck in a state of confusion. Days and months can turn into decades of mismatched pieces. As long as we hold on to the “old ways” our past remains “alive” and continues to shape our existence. If we could simply take that first step towards letting go!
What if taking that first step was simpler than we thought? Begin by taking a deep breath. Then read the text below and imagine the sound of your compassionate voice as the words vibrate in your mind’s eye.
Visualize yourself standing in a beautiful place of your choice, your very own field of wisdom or perhaps you are facing the sea, your very own ocean of possibility. While you are in this sacred space, feel that your mind is untroubled and that your heart is open. See yourself surrounded by serene shades and whispering winds. In your hands, see yourself holding whatever it is that you want to release. It could be a depressing thought, an outdated belief, a negative emotion, a distressing memory, a limiting behaviour, an erroneous perception, or perhaps you see yourself holding the hand of a person that is toxic in your life. Feel yourself experience the lightness of being that comes from the softness in the air as you breathe in, open your hand, let it go....breathe out. Whatever it is that you need to let go, dissolve it into nothingness as you blow it away out in the field or the sea.
Today, in this moment of clarity, know that you are on the brink of opportunity. You have created an amazing opportunity for a new way of being and doing. A way of care and compassion for your soul.
There might be more steps to take before you feel completely at ease in this release of the old but with your kindest voice, tell yourself that you took a gentle step today.
Letting Go of Anger
Anger is a natural emotion experienced by all human beings. While it is normal to feel angry at times, it is the actual clinging to anger that can be toxic to your soul. If you hold on to anger, you live inside the venom.
If you feel anger, use it to mobilize your psychological resources for survival, but then, let it go. The trick is to let go of the anger without releasing it on others. Hit a cushion, bang a nail on a board, go for a drive and yell your little heart out. Get it out of your mind before it burns holes into your psyche.
When you feel angry (and you will, at times), be willing to be completely aware of yourself in the situation. This awareness will help you to handle it. If it’s challenging for you to “see yourself” when you are angry, do not hesitate to get some professional help. You have a right to learn new ways of being and doing. Learning to release the anger can change your life.
If you find that letting go of anger is impossible, think of Nelson Mandela as an inspiration. After 27 years of wrongful imprisonment, he left his anger behind with dignity. He realized that if he still hated his captors once he left the prison, he would never have true freedom. They would still have him… Be aware of the prison that anger creates in your own mind.
It is Mark Twain who said that anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.
Be kind to your vessel; release the anger.