Letting go… or hearing the words, “just let it go” is one of those disservices we do to ourselves and others while we’re trying to be really well meaning. It feels like the right thing to say, but we all have our own moments of struggling with our own personal example of not being able to let something go when we think, “how do other people do this, because I really struggle to let go.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn has a beautiful explanation of how the process of “letting go” works in reality…
“When people say “Let it go,” what they really mean is “Get over it,” and that’s not a helpful thing to say. It’s not a matter of letting go – you would if you could. Instead of “Let it go,” we should probably say “Let it be”; this recognizes that the mind won’t let go and the problem may not go away, and it allows you to form a healthier relationship with what’s bothering you.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Healing is ‘a coming to terms with’ things as they are, rather than struggling to force them to be as they once were, or as we would like them to be, to feel secure or to have what we sometimes think of as ‘our own way.'” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Wherever you go, there you are. Whatever you wind up doing, that’s what you’ve wound up doing. Whatever you are thinking right now, that’s what’s on your mind. Whatever has happened to you, it has already happened. The important question is, “how are you going to handle it?” …. Like it or not, this moment is all we really have to work with.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Patience is a form of wisdom. It demonstrates that we understand and accept the fact that sometimes things must unfold in their own time.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Today’s meditation journey puts this into practice.
The thing that we want to know is, “yes but what do I do?” and the answer is “first do nothing”. The urgency with which we want to DO doesn’t come from our higher self but from our scared self, and we have to first move beyond this place.
When you find the mountain in you, you find that you are able to be OK no matter what the weather is. Sunshine, rain or storm, you are able to be in the midst of all of this and find that you are completely OK, happy even. This is your inner strength, the part of you that is not disturbed by any of this, this is your wisdom. Listen to this part of you to decide what the next step is.
Mantras to help you embrace your mountain:
- Embrace the Now: Focus on the present moment, open yourself to finding the part of you that can be OK whatever the weather is.
- Accept What Is: Acknowledge your thoughts and feelings without judgement.
- Practice Patience: Allow things to unfold naturally, without forcing outcomes.
- Trust the Process: One step at a time, one breath at a time, have faith in your inner wisdom and the unfolding of life.
By embracing this moment-to-moment awareness, we can develop a greater sense of peace and resilience. When challenges arise, we can respond with patience and understanding, rather than reacting impulsively. Turn to the wisdom of the mountain. The mountain remains steadfast, no matter the weather. It endures storms, droughts, and floods with equanimity. It doesn’t try to control the world around it, it simply is. We can learn from this example and cultivate our own inner strength and resilience.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: I am the mountain.