Letting go can mean so many things....realizing the thing we want to hold on to, no longer wants to hold on to us; accepting that the season of a relationship has ended; and forgiving someone who we feel hurt us; overcoming deep grief and sadness.
"With forgiveness, my life is no longer defined by the pain, but by the future possibilities." Dr. Dick Tibbits
Eckhart Tolle believes we create and maintain problems because they give
us a sense of identity. Perhaps this explains why we often hold onto
our pain far beyond its ability to serve us.
Holding on to those feelings of rejection, anger, grief, and sadness, can create an emotional prison. Imagine yourself stuck in a place with people who wounded you as a child; friends who may have wronged you; a spouse who betrayed your trust or spoke hurtful words; a parent, sibling, or other family member....all trapped in this jail of your own making.
Nothing strengthens the judgement and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility.
-Elizabeth Cady Stanton
I woke up this morning thrilled that my community passed a bond issue allowing for a new middle school to be built in our school district. And, I frequent Facebook a bit, and when I logged on today, my stomach was in knots. It had nothing to do with who won or who did not win the presidential race. My stomach was in knots over the intense animosity, criticism and hatred that seems to be floating amongst the cyber-waves.
In THIS moment, my share is not about politics. In THIS moment by share is about CHOICE.....choosing to step away from condemnation, criticism, and complaining.
Every morning I read through several different sources for my affirmations. Some resonate with me more than others, depending on where my thoughts and emotions are. This morning I read from a book by Earnest Holmes, "Science of Mind". Here is what I read this morning, November 7th, 2012:
"Whatever the mistakes of yesterday may have been, today is a new creation. Turning from the errors of the past, and no longer carrying with us the sorrows and mistakes of yesterday, today we may enter into a new experience. But it is only when we forgive everyone that we may feel certain that the weight of condemnation is lifted from our own consciousness. We should refuse to carry negations of yesterday into the positive atmosphere of today, for today the world is made new in our experience.
Today I loose all condemnation. I judge not, and I am judged only by the Law of Good. There is no animosity, no criticism, no hatred. I shall behold the face of love, of beauty, and of peace in everyone I meet. I know that every right motive has the blessing of the Spirit and that there is nothing that opposes this blessing or denies this Divine givingness."
