Learning to let go
It should be a required course starting in kindergarten; it is one of the most important tools for not just surviving but for thriving. It affects everything from personal health to family relationships to wealth. It also impacts the health of nations and whether or not there is peace in any part of the world.
And yet it is virtually ignored by most schools, and certainly given no credence by traditional politicians. In fact, most educational and cultural institutions promote the exact opposite: complete identification with the things you have and achieve, since that’s who you are. And do anything to hold on to those things and identity because without it you are basically worthless. The idea that “letting go” could be a beneficial thing is rarely acknowledged, and the concept of “detachment” is almost never addressed. Unfortunately, when you ignore the reality of change and the need to let go, you place yourself, or your country, in a very difficult spot.
We pay a high price for this ignorance in almost every way. People hold on to unhealthy relationships because they are afraid to be alone, or just be. Just imagine that instead of moaning or groaning when a relationship comes to an end(a natural cycle), people are just grateful for the experiences they have- and are able to let go graciously.
In our nation, politicians often spout their rhetoric about what needs to be done to “get the economy back on track”, a real disservice to the American people because it fosters delusion, almost never a good thing. Few seem inclined to tell the truth and acknowledge that things are changing- the fortunes of nations are re-aligning and so are our personal finances. Rare is the courage to just say that the economy, like almost every other thing or relationship, has its cycles of up or down. And just think for a moment, is it possible that the economy can only go up?
Underneath this denial of reality is the inability to let go, because it seems that it would be too threatening for many people to hear the truth. It’s easier to blame those who don’t agree with you, or just become cynical. With the economy, the blame often goes to overseas workers who supposedly steal American jobs, at the same time that many Americans enjoy low cost China made goods at Walmart and Target.
How do you handle letting go in your life?
