Oftentimes you don’t even realize you’re blocking your own present blessings by holding on to everything so tightly.
Letting go is not giving up. Letting go is surrendering any obsessive attachments to particular outcomes and situations. Surrender means showing up in your life with the intention to be your best, and to do the best you know how, without expecting life to always go your way. Have goals, have dreams, take purposeful action, and build solid relationships, but detach from what life must look like every step of the way.
The energy of someone aspiring to create something wonderful, teamed with this kind of surrender, is far more powerful and rewarding than someone determined to create outcomes with a desperate must-have mentality. Surrender brings inner calmness, awareness, and understanding… and lest we forget that our outer lives are a reflection of our inner state of being.
Thus, let’s remind ourselves of some things we typically attach to long after it’s time to let go, so we can loosen our grip on them before the end of the year:
1. The way things “should” be right now.
Try to use frustration and inconvenience to motivate you rather than annoy you. You are in control of the way you look at life. Instead of getting angry, find the lesson. In place of envy, feel admiration. In place of worry, take action. In place of doubt, have faith. Remember that your response is always more powerful than your present circumstance. A small part of your life is decided by completely uncontrollable circumstances, while the vast majority of your life is decided by your responses. Where you ultimately end up is heavily dependent on how you play the hands you’ve been dealt.
2. The ways things used to be.
You’re not the same person you were a year ago, a month ago, or even a week ago. You’re always learning and growing, and life is always evolving. Even though you can’t control everything that happens, you can control your attitude about what happens. And in doing so, you will gradually master change rather than allowing it to master you. So be humble today. Be teachable. The world is bigger than your view of the world. There’s always room for a fresh idea or a next step. But first you must accept the fact that things may never go back to how they used to be, and that this ending is really a new beginning.
3. Past mistakes and errors in judgment.
Forgive yourself for the bad decisions you’ve made in the past, for the times you lacked understanding, for the choices that accidentally hurt others and yourself. Forgive yourself, for being young and reckless. These are all vital lessons. And what matters most right now is your willingness to grow from them.
4. The desire to control the uncontrollable.
Be selective with your energy today. If you can fix a problem, fix it. If you can’t, then accept it and change your thoughts about it. Whatever you do, don’t attempt to invest more energy than you have, tripping over something behind you or something that only exists inside your head. Truth be told, some of the most powerful moments in life happen when you find the courage to let go of what can’t be changed. Because when you are no longer able to change a situation, you are challenged to change yourself — to grow beyond the unchangeable. And that changes everything.
5. Fantasies of a perfect path (or time to begin).
Too often we waste our time waiting for a path to appear, but it never does. Because we forget that paths are made by walking, not waiting. And we forget that there’s absolutely nothing about our present circumstances that prevents us from making progress again, one tiny step at a time.
6. The need for constant comfort and ease.
Everything gets a bit hard and uncomfortable when it’s time to change. That’s just a part of the growth process. Things will get better, one step at a time. And keep in mind that your effort is never wasted, even when it leads to disappointing results. For it always makes you stronger, more educated, and more experienced. So when the going gets tough, be patient and keep going. Just because you are struggling does not mean you are failing. Every great success requires some kind of worthy struggle to get there.
7. Those feelings that we don’t have what it takes.
Every difficult life situation can be an excuse for hopelessness or an opportunity for growth, depending on what you choose to do with it. In the midst of particularly hard days when I feel that I can’t endure, I try to remind myself that my track record for getting through hard days is 100% so far. And the same is true for YOU. We have what it takes! (Note: Angel and I discuss this further in the Adversity chapter of “1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently”.)
8. Relationships that make us feel less like ourselves.
Let others take you as you are, or not at all. Speak your truth even if your voice shakes. By being yourself, you put something beautiful into the world that was not there before. And in the long run it’s wiser to lose someone over being who you are, than it is to keep them by being someone you’re not. Because it’s easier to fill an empty space in your life where someone else used to be, than it is to fill the empty space inside yourself where YOU used to be.
9. Old chapters in our lives that are still lingering half open.
You’re going to mingle with a lot of people in your lifetime. You’re going to have first kisses you feel all the way down to your toes and think “Oh my gosh, I love him,” but really you just loved the kiss. You’re going to meet a friend you think you will know forever, but then something will change and you two will go your separate ways. You’re going to explore different parts of your life with different people who aren’t in it for the long haul, and that isn’t a bad thing. Life is a series of stories, and the way our stories intersect is remarkable. Sometimes people are in our lives for the whole story. Sometimes they are just a short chapter or two. It takes a brave person to know when that chapter is over, and then to turn the page. Be brave. Embrace your goodbyes, because almost every “goodbye” you receive in life sets you up for the next “hello.”
10. Those learned beliefs that we always need more, more, more.
We don’t always need more — we need appreciation. Because we often take for granted the very things that most deserve our attention and gratitude. How often do you pause to appreciate your life just the way it is? Look around right now, and be thankful… for your health, your family, your work, your comforts, your home. Nothing lasts forever. (Note: “The Good Morning Journal: Powerful Prompts & Reflections to Start Every Day” is a great tool for this kind of perspective shift and gratitude practice.)
How to actively practice letting go of disappointments.
Reflecting on the reminders above can be incredibly grounding, but what can you actively do to let go when the immediate tension inside you is spiraling?
Here’s a brief outline of some initial steps Angel and I personally take (and often recommend to our coaching clients and event attendees) to cope with the immediate tension that arises from disappointing outcomes in our lives:
- Acknowledge the tension inside you. — If you notice yourself getting angry and flustered, it’s a sign that you need to pause, take a deep breath, and practice the remaining steps.
- Resist the urge to act in haste. — The greatest harm comes whenever you act out of anger — actions that might include giving up too soon, consuming unhealthy substances, or even attacking someone else. So whenever you notice anger building up inside you, try not to take any form of destructive action. Instead, turn inward and mindfully assess whatever it is that’s arising.
- Sit with your feelings, and give them space. — Turn directly towards the tension you feel, and just be a witness. See it as something that’s passing through you, but is NOT YOU. It’s a feeling, a dark cloud passing across a vast sky, not a permanent fixture. Treat it that way. Instead of obsessing yourself with the dark cloud’s presence, try to broaden your perspective — give it the space it needs to pass. Sometimes you need a little distance to see things clearly again.
- Be OK with not knowing. — Now that you’ve given yourself some necessary space, tell yourself, “I don’t know why things are this way.” And be OK with this unknowing. Give yourself full permission to not have concrete answers in this moment. What would it be like to allow this moment to unfold without knowing? What is it like to not know what’s going on in the hearts and minds of others? What is it like to not know how to respond to life’s chaos? What is it like to be here right now, without jumping to conclusions?
The bottom line is that when life dishes you a harsh dose of reality, the best first steps involve sitting silently and witnessing the thoughts passing through you. Just witnessing at first, not interfering and not even judging, because by judging too rapidly you have lost the pure witness. The moment you rush to say, “this is absolutely terrible” or “things should be different,” you have already jumped head first into the chaos.
It takes practice to create a gap between the witnessing of thoughts and your response to them. Once the gap is there though, you are in for a great surprise — it becomes evident that you are not the thoughts themselves, nor the tension and chaos influencing them. You are the witness, a watcher, who’s capable of letting go, changing your mindset, and rising above the turmoil.
Now, it’s your turn…
Yes, it’s your turn to breathe deep, to be present, and to remind yourself that every day is a series of a million tiny miracles. So just do your best to see them today, and every day for the rest of the year. See how inner peace comes with letting go of what you assume your journey is supposed to be like, and sincerely respecting it for everything that it is.
But before you go, please leave Angel and me a comment below and let us know what you think of this essay. Your feedback is important to us. 🙂
Which one of the points above resonated the most today?
Also, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign-up for our free newsletter to receive new articles like this in your inbox each week.
Pearl says
Dear Marc and Angel,
I have been a reader of your blog since I was single. Now I have a family of my own.
Whenever I am full of so much emotions I can’t contain, it is your blog I seek for some thoughts I need to “hear”. And it would always give me a fresh perspective I thought I’d never need.
Thank you for this continued support through the years. And today’s post is especially wonderful. There’s lots I need to let go of before the year’s end.
Kathleen Klima says
Thank you both for sharing your insight and inspiration. I appreciate you for being genuine.
Samtonnie Crossman says
Love it, it’s very informative and it’s a great lesson for me since all the above applied to me, yes I need to breathe, be a witness, and just let that gap be, without judging or saying a word, this I will practice. Thanks.
Maria says
Angel and Marc, this post is spot on for me. In my personal life I’m getting better with accepting life and making the best of it. Through your teachings and the teachings of other experts I’ve learned how to better harness my presence. And being present has been the key to much of my recent breakthroughs. It’s seems overly simple when I say it, but practicing presence has been a true challenge, especially when life doesn’t turn out in my favor.
Before I attended one of your live events last summer my thoughts and anxiety about life really got in my way of making effective decisions. I was reacting to everything, instead of responding mindfully. I appreciate the guidance you’ve given me and continue to share online via your emails and blog.
Betsy J says
Life as unfolding…I picture myself with the choice of tightly holding on to the napkin wrapped silverware, keeping it tightly and securely wound as I cling to it gripped in my hands held close to me. Or of placing the same tightly wrapped napkin down on the table and gently and calmly unfolding each side of the napkin and finding the sparkling silverware, the useful tools to be used for eating a delicious meal. The choice is mine. To either fear letting go, to resist ongoing change that brings newness and awareness and opening up – or to cling to a past which is gone and no longer exist, to try to hold on to the impossible, causing myself pain. The choice is mine, I choose to let go, unfold and receive, be nourished, to live in the present. Life unfolds daily, to be lived as each moment unfolds.
Bhekisisa says
Greetings
I am inspired, these are words of wisdom. I read and re-read until it sink well in my mind and soul.
Thank you.
Bhekisisa
Shawna Jeffers says
I have not noticed emails from you guys lately, I really have not been paying attention, today I opened my box and this caught my attention right away. I am stunned at how perfectly fitting this is to my life right now at this exact moment!!! I was with someone for 5 years, it was a destructive relationship on both sides but I’m not sure if the mental abuse just has me thinking it’s my fault? But I know better, I just can’t seem to let go and see what it was, Dwell on things I should have done differently, let go of the guilt I feel. This email has just given me the wake-up call to start my new path, but I am so scared of being alone.. and I am not young – I’m 42. This is not a person I have kids with or was married to, I let go of my ex husband and divorced him with no problems. I just can not understand what is happening to me. Thank you guys for giving me a step in the right direction today.
Paula says
You nailed it with six and nine for me. Thank you!
Allison C Bayer says
Well now, just what I needed to hear! Thank you. Lots of changes lately, nothing huge in my contented life, but lots of little things. Which, after your timely reminders, don’t amount to a hill of beans and easily let go of. I read through once, shared with two friends then read again. Third time I grabbed a notebook and wrote them out. The outro thoughts on how to let go . . . not knowing/best first steps/pure witness/chaotic tension/creating a gap and knowing I’m capable of letting go have me on a corrected path to move forward. Thank you for the peace of mind these acknowledgments brought to me today. Gems! Absolute gems, both of you!!
Tors says
I was searching for something to inspire me after a session with my counsellor this afternoon, and then I saw your email with a link to this post.
It really hit home that I need to take time to listen to myself more and be less harsh on myself. I, like many put far too much pressure on myself to act out a life that is ‘Supposed to be’ a certain way, this is what is harboring me and constantly haunting me but I have to let this go.
Thank you so much, I really needed to see this today! x
Rosie says
I’ve been reading your posts for years and bought your books. All brilliant. But your emails with links to your essays seem to always appear when I need that extra boost and reminder. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Keep on doing you. You’re a great team.
Denise T says
Hi,
I have been reading your articles for a few weeks now, and loving each one. Today’s hit the mark for me. Family drama with hurt feelings ~ want to react ~ what will that resolve? Nothing!
I honestly don’t want to jump in ~ and am going to follow your advice…sit back and be mindful of me.
Thank you,
Denise
Karin says
Thank you! Your essay speaks to me as I am weighing in on many of these issues at this time in my life. I look forward to every mail you two send to help me validate my feelings. You have a wonderful gift.
Anthony says
You folks are a blessing. I have reading your newsletters for a few years now… Thanks always well done.
Carolyn J villemaire says
This is full of amazing powerful tidbits. I am going to teach them to my 7 yo grandson. And if course apply them in my own life. I had a very hard time with the change that empty nest brought to me and certainly didn’t handle it with any grace at all. Ten years later although I’m on a good trajectory now I still am building a new life. But I suppose everyday we all are, in our own way, building a new life. Thank you so much for the articles you put out. I always find them very helpful and uplifting.
Susan Ritchey says
A lot to learn here before the end of the year. But a healthy challenge for me. Thank you Marc & Angel for your insights.
Sue says
Yeah! Me too!
Angela L says
I recently stumbled across your site and I have begun a new journey. Thank you both for such valuable information.
Lorraine says
Your advice is so spot on. I’m really speechless and grateful. Thank you.
Gary says
You do awesome work that is helpful to many – like me.
Gary Crawford
Kemeala says
Such a blessing to read each line. The writing amazes me. Such talented writers. The words come alive each time. I have been not only reading but meditating on each line. Thank God for you both.
Makky says
This blessed me. Thanks Marc and Angel.
Tata says
“See how inner peace comes with letting go of what you assume your journey is supposed to be like, and sincerely respecting it for everything that it is”
Profound.
Mary says
Definitely fitting for me & for my daughter who is going through a challenging time right now. I will forward this essay to her. I love reading your articles. You always give me lots to think about. Thank you.
Waser Delphine says
Waiting for a path instead of taking action is what speaks to me the most this morning. I have been waiting far too long for a trigger to start changing my unhealthy habits. At the same time I need to forgive myself and let the anger go about wasting so much time. It is never too late to make it happen. I have tried before but never succeeded in persevering so that is something I must work on, learning to be patient indulgent take it slow and be for over on my side, not my enemy. I believe rythm in life is everything. Taking deep breaths, learning to slow down, living for the moment, forgetting yesterday and tomorrow!
Thank you for your support!
Take care.
Ebenezer Commey says
I really needed this
Lou says
Thank you once again. I have to say this all hit home so much.
Gary L Russ says
Marc & Angel, Much gratitude & thanks
for sharing your knowledge, talents & experiences.
Recently I was in a serious traffic crash.
A car failed to yield & “T-Boned” me ask they say. Have broken left shoulder & Level III TBI.
Had to begin again…yet another quest for self awareness, self improvement…
Kelly says
This is so wonderful and inspiring
Mostly number 8 and 9 is more than a complete book for me
Thanks so much for everything
Endless love.
Haim says
Very inspiring and practical.
Mihail Vlad says
This is very powerful, I really needed to hear these empowering advices. Now I am grateful and have a different outlook, I appreciate more what I have than before. Thank you for your wisdom and I look forward to hearing more from you.