ARTICLES

Art of letting go

Does that one person annoy you so much? Do you feel resistance bubbling up against what you are doing? Do you experience powerlessness in the situation you have found yourself in? In this article, nobi takes you through the salutary thoughts surrounding "the power of letting go" by Eckhart Tolle, renowned author of the book "The Power of Now" and one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time.

The concept of letting go: what is it?

Letting go can be described as consciously letting go of resistance, negative emotions, limiting beliefs, destructive thoughts, expectations and attachment to people, events or outcomes that do not please or serve us. Letting go is accepting reality as it is, without judgment or resistance, and letting go of your need to control things beyond your control. Does this mean you should just let everything happen? No. But you release people and things to be who or what they are instead of letting them move you. As a result, you no longer let your outer world determine the quality of your inner world. In this way, letting go leans perhaps closest to letting go.

Now do you think this makes letting go a sign of weakness? On the contrary: the ability to consciously let go or release what you cannot change is a source of strength and wisdom. After all, letting go is anything but becoming passive or giving up. When you learn to let go, you release the need to exert control over things you cannot change. This creates freedom and inner space to focus on what you can influence. The benefits of learning to let go are therefore multiple:

  • Letting go allows you to reduce your emotional worries, find more calm and inner peace, and make room for positivity.
  • As you release or let go of old beliefs, habits and behaviors that no longer serve you, you create space for new possibilities, self-discovery and personal development.
  • When you release others in how or who they are, and don't hold on to unrealistic expectations, you free yourself from disappointment and create a climate in which truly deepening relationships can occur.
  • By letting go, you reduce the negative effects of stress, anxiety and tension and promote your mental and emotional well-being.

Quote

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
– Laon Tzu

Letting go of your resistance begins with the realization that you create your own reality

Did you know that nothing or no one outside of you is responsible for your inner landscape? Let this immediately be the biggest lesson Tolle teaches us. Feelings, emotions, thoughts, ... they are just constructions of your mind and you allow them to emerge from a reaction to the context or environment you are in. "But what if I was horribly wronged? Then aren't my thoughts or emotions justified?" "That doesn't matter," Tolle says. "They come about because you resist that which is causing you to make the present moment your enemy. This creates resistance, which is as much as a conflict between your inner world and the outer world."

Do you find that recognizable, that feeling of inner resistance to people or situations? Then know that resistance is the ideal breeding ground for the creation of negative thought patterns, pain and a sense of uneasiness and unhappiness. Resistance pollutes your inner panorama, and through the law of resonance you also contaminate your environment with it. Which brings us to our favorite nobi quote, "So inside, so outside. So ask yourself this question: am I polluting myself and the world around me? Or am I well on my way to clearing out my inner clutter?

Quote

“Things are as they are — we suffer because we imagined different.”
– 
Rachel Wolchin

Learn to let go with these 5 tools

Dear nobi reader, you are so much more than a bundle of conditioned reflexes. Do you really want to learn to let your outer world "be" without turning your inner world upside down? Then we invite you to practice the process of letting go using these 7 tools:

1. Letting go starts with wishing it

Learning to let go starts with the intrinsic desire and will to let go of the weight of your pain. The choice is yours whether you want to continue holding on to obstructive patterns or not. Are you dealing with a deep body of pain such as the loss of a loved one? Then you are invited to be present with your pain in unbroken love and attention, and accept the loss.

 2. Develop self-awareness

You cannot know what you want to let go of until you know what is going on inside you and what you are attached to. Become aware of your thoughts, emotions and reactions to situations. When do you notice that you are holding on to events or people? When do you experience negativity or resistance? Self-awareness allows you to recognize where your letting go is needed.

3. Accept reality for what it is

Accept, release, let be... Let yourself move with the swell of life, firmly anchored in yourself, yet smoothly accommodating what presents itself. Reality is what it is. Learn to behold it and feel it through, without judgment. By doing so, you recognize that certain things are beyond your control, allowing you to focus your energy on what feeds you rather than what brings you down.

 4. Learn to forgive

Forgiving is an important part of letting go. Letting go of grudges, resentments and negative feelings toward others liberates not only the other person, but most importantly yourself. Forgiveness does not mean that you approve of the behavior, but that you release the burden of negative emotions and create space for healing and growth.

5. Let go of control

Recognize that many things in life are beyond your control. Don't try to frantically control, direct or want to predict everything. Learn to trust the process and the universe. Let go of the need for control and trust that things will turn out the right way.

6. Practice letting go in different areas

When you learn to let go, it automatically leads to learning to detach yourself. Therefore, practice letting go consciously within various domains of your life. This can range from material possessions you no longer need to limiting beliefs that hinder your growth. Take small steps and experience the liberation that comes with letting go of what no longer serves you.

7. Take care of yourself

Take good care of yourself during the process of letting go. Give yourself permission to rest, relax and process your emotions. Find healthy ways to reduce stress, such as meditation, exercise or keeping a journal. Self-care helps you stay resilient as you surrender to the process of "letting go...

Are you ready for the 'inner journey'? For a more authentic version of yourself? Nobi would like to support you with inspiring literature. You can order 'The Power of Now, guide to a conscious and happy life' by Eckart Tolle or another inspiring book via our nobi book list.

Quote:

“You can't reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterday's junk." - Louise Smith

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