Letting Go of the Little Things

I don’t think I have a favourite time of year. Or to put it a better way, every time of year is my favourite time of year. I can find beauty in winter’s rolling snow hills and frozen blue sky, the bright leaf buds and flower blossoms of spring, and summer’s thick waving grass and puffy white clouds.

But fall is spectacular. The colours take my breath away. The reds, yellows, greens, and browns as the trees slowly let go.

Fall shows us how beautiful it is to let go.

Letting go is a hard thing to do. But necessary. It can even be beautiful. But did I mention that it’s hard?

I’m not sure, but I think it’s a skill that get’s easier with practice. I say I’m not sure because every once in awhile, no matter how much practice one has had with letting go, a big doozie comes along that knocks the wind right out of you.

Life gives us a thousand opportunities a day to practice letting go. It’s not just the big things, like the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the change in living situation. Letting go is also in the little things. And it’s those little things that we’re taking about today.

Letting go is about letting what is just be. Letting go is about changing what’s inside us so that what’s outside us doesn’t push our buttons.

What if we let go of our list of complaints? This coffee is too cold. Great, it’s drizzling. This computer is so darn slow.

What if we let go of our little expectations? Drivers should be more courteous. Things should be on time. That’s not polite.

What if we let go of our billions of rigid opinions? Dogs are way better. Androids are by far superior to iPhones. GMC all the way.

What if we let go of our expectations on others? She definitely shouldn’t be wearing that outfit. He shouldn’t have said that. They shouldn’t behave that way.

What if we let go of our opinions about ourselves? I’m too fat. I’m such a perfectionist. I’m not that type of person.

What if we let go of beating up on ourselves? I’m an idiot. I keep making the same mistake. I never get anything right.

What if we let go of the past? She hurt my feelings. He was such a jerk to me. I’m never going there again.

What if we could let go of the way things were? We always do things this way. She used to do this. He used to be that way.

What if we let go of the argument in our mind? If I do this, then that’ll happen. No, that’s no good. I’ll have to do that.

Life is hard, yes. But that’s not really our problem. The problem is that in our minds, we believe that it’s a problem. Our internal chatter, opinions, arguments, and commentary are the problem. Instead of living life, we live our chatter about life.

And then we miss how beautiful life really is.

Wouldn’t you like to live a life feeling appreciation for the little things, surprised and delighted by change, compassionate and loving towards others, ready to try new things, content and satisfied with yourself and those around you?

Of course you want this. Everyone does. But in order for these things to happen, it’s up to you. You have to let go of the patterns, the hurt, and the opinions. You have to let go of the way things were and the way you think things should be. You have to let go and let what is just be.

And just enjoy the scenery.

Here’s to Conquering Stress,

The Stress Experts