Letting it Go.
During fall the trees loose their leaves in a flourish of color and show us how beautiful it is to let it go. But what is “it” and where does “it” go, really?
In my last blog, Finding Balance, I wrote about how letting go helped me to find balance with work and play. I meant letting go of tasks, obligations, appointments, lists, emotions…etc., etc. Many readers asked the question “when you let something go, where does it go?” and recently I had an experience with a co-worker that made me wonder…What is “it”? & Where does this sh “it” really go?
🤷♂️ What is “it”?
“It” is the many many layers of the ego. Our true self is housed inside and protected by the ego and sometimes confused for the ego. Every time we are challenged by another person, or experience, those unpleasant thoughts, feelings, emotions rise up from within. Take a moment to notice them and view this moment as an opportunity to let go of another layer of the ego.
🤔 Is it easy to let “it’ go?
No. No it is not. It sounds wonderful, but in actual practice it is not easy or quick to let things, thoughts, emotions, feelings go. Trees let their leaves go in a slow natural process, our breath comes and goes voluntarily without us really having to focus on it, but emotions, well…they linger. Pleasant ones not long enough and unpleasant ones too long.
🍂 Here are a few ways to let “it” go:
Journal
Talk it out
Seek advice or support
Exercise
Focus on Something Else
Notice it
Think/Reflect about it
Cooling off time
Walk away
Write a Blog!
🌲Let it come, let it be, let it go.
The trees let go of their leaves beautifully and naturally, the breath comes in, lingers and then is released. We can learn from the breath and the trees to let go of unpleasant emotions by learning to let them come in to existence, exist for as long as they need to, then they can be let go. Each time we do this we are shedding our layers of ego and finding the true authentic self. It’s a beautiful process!
Ms. Brandon, RCYT, RYT500, holds a Master's degree in Special Education from Western Carolina University, is a highly qualified educator, and has 20 years' experience working with children and children with special needs. Information for the kids yoga blog comes from Ms. Brandon’s 95 hour Children’s Yoga Teacher Training RCYS, and is approved by Yoga Alliance.
