“To change skins, evolve into new cycles, I feel one has to learn to discard. If one changes internally, one should not continue to live with the same objects. They reflect one’s mind and the psyche of yesterday. I throw away what has no dynamic, living use.”
~Anaïs Nin~
It’s Spring! For most of the U.S. this has been a very long and snowy Winter. People are in need of the warmth of the sun and the chirping of birds to awaken the soul. Nature is stepping out from her slumber and into the abundance of budding trees and sun reaching flowers. These cues from nature are beautiful invitations to help us in identifying, releasing, and letting go of the excess, of the things that are perhaps weighing us down in our lives.
On an inner level we must “clean house” every now and then and take inventory of what we are holding onto.
Sometimes we find ourselves holding onto habits, resentments, limiting beliefs, fears and certain ways of being, because they feel safe and comfortable since we’ve been holding onto them for so long. Yet if we were to take a closer look, we can start to see that these things no longer serve us and in fact we are standing in our own way of moving forward.
Imagine the old tree metaphor – what would happen if a tree never lost its leaves? It would never look bare. It would always be full and abundant. Yet if trees never shed itself of their leaves there would never be the space or opportunity to grow new leafs, new ideas, new ways of thinking, new opportunities. So how do we begin to identify and let go of the things that we are ready to release?
First we must claim some special time for ourselves. We’ll need to go outside to a place that is special to us, a river, a park, an old hiking trail, a place that feels safe and sacred. Bring a notebook and pen.
Second, center ourselves. Feel the ground, take in deep breaths of the Spring air and the energy of release and letting go. Next, answer these questions…
1. What is wasting your time and energy?
2. What feels like a burden to you?
3. What habits or patterns leave you feeling tired, overwhelmed, or bored?
4. What are you most fearful right now?
Analyse your answers and compose a list of 5 things you are ready to let go of. These things should be what we know in our hearts that no longer serve us, even though they may feel comfortable.
Next take 5 stones. Each one of these stones represents the one thing we need to release, surrender, and let go. Make it clear what each stone represents. Take a moment as you pick each stone from the ground, take a breath, feel it in your hand as you say aloud, “this stone represents my resentment of _________”. Or “this stone represents my relationship with ________”. Allow each stone to take on the energy of the thing you need to release.
Then take a walk with your stones. Make a note of how these stones burden you and weigh you down. Note how they’ve gotten in your way of peace and contentment. Then as you are ready, drop them to the ground, one by one. Feel the symbolism of letting each one go. If you are near water, toss them into it, listen to the splash, visualize it sinking and disappearing.
Notice how it feels in your body. Where do you feel it the most? Is it in your throat, your chest, your head, your shoulders? Breathe.
The last step is for us to write down an action step for each of the items. What will you do in replacement of what you have released? Keep this list where you will always see it.
What do you need to let go of? What beliefs have been holding you back?
The Reflective Self 