The following post by Courtney Carver is marvelously serendipitous for me personally, so I need to share it. Even if you are right on top of your spring cleaning (please don't tell me if you are.), letting go of a bad self-image, resentment, or perfection may also be a part of our cleaning up. I'm printing this article and keeping it handy by my bedside as a daily reminder.
http://bemorewithless.com/letitgo/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeMoreWithLess+%28Be+More+with+Less%29
Posted: 21 Apr 2015 09:33 AM PDT
Every thing you hold on to
gets heavy after a while. Imagine what it would feel like to carry your
stuff around all day. From the stuff you store just in case, and the clutter in
your home to harsh words from a loved one, or a regret from the past. Your stuff
is heavy and even though you might not actually be carrying around your
clutter, in some ways you are.
We each carry our own heavy things
like worry, fear, pain, and bad habits, but we all share the burden. It’s not
just you who suffers from the weight you carry through the world. It impacts
your work, relationships, health and everyone around you.
Even though letting go can feel
scary, and uncertain, it also feels light. You can feel the lightness
immediately and other people will recognize it too. They will sense that there
is something different about you; something attractive and warm. It’s hard to
ignore when someone is light.
When you let go of physical
objects, your home feels light.
Start with the easy stuff like duplicates, things you don’t use or enjoy and
the stuff that has no purpose in your life or your home. Box it up, set it
aside, and notice the light in your home.
When you let go of the just in
case items, your suitcase feels light.
Packing lightly is a great practice for living lightly. On your next trip, pack
for 1/2 the time you are traveling. Leave the just in case items at home and
notice the light when you are walking through the airport, unpacking at
the hotel, and exploring a new city.
When you let go of what you
don’t like about yourself, your body feels light.
Maybe you aren’t at your ideal weight, or you don’t love the wrinkles, extra
softness, or something else about your body. I think most of us carry some sort
of that negative self talk around, and it’s heavy.
Look in the mirror and smile. Really
see yourself and the body that has been through so much with you. Read about how one woman learned to live in her body for inspiration
and figure out what works best for you. Let go and feel the light in your body.
When you let go of anger or
resentment from the past, your heart feels light.
Letting go doesn’t require fixing things, or setting the record straight. You
can just decide that you are going to stop punishing yourself. If you need a
ceremony, write it down and burn or tear it up. Say goodbye to the hurt you
cannot resolve and notice the light in your heart.
When you let go of fear of the
future, your soul feels light.
The path ahead is uncertain and that’s never going to change. Release your fear
of how things will unfold by getting rooted in the present. Do your best
to show up today, and you will be better equipped to handle your tomorrows with
grace and ease.
Take a deep breath, let go of fear
about what might happen, and notice the light in your soul.
When you let go of items on
your to-do list, your mind feels light.
Maybe you can do it all, but you can’t do it all today. Let go of the long
lists and focus on a short one with a handful of items that you can accomplish
in one day. You have to choose between crossing things off your list, or living
with clarity about what’s most important to you. At the end of the day, once
you’ve let go of all the things that need to be done, notice the light in your
mind.
When you let go of perfection,
everything feels light.
The opposite of perfection is freedom, so when you let it go, your work,
health, and relationships rise from that freedom and lightness. Let there be
typos and failures in your work. Let there be disagreements with people you
love. Let there be lazy afternoons of movie marathons and potato chips. Give yourself permission to be a work in progress and feel
the light in everything.
When you let go of the need to
be right, your relationships feel light.
When did being right and fixing things replace true love in your
relationship? Let go of being right and focus on what makes you smile.
Give your friend/lover/partner a big hug, remember what you love about the two
of you together and notice the light in your relationship.
Letting go of things for a clean
countertop or closet might not be enough to sustain a life with less, but light
is everything. As my friend KC says,
“Give yourself permission to glow in the dark.” Let go to be light.
When you are overwhelmed, tired or
stressed, the solution is almost always … less. Get rid of something. Lots of
somethings. Let go.
If you want to be light, you have to
let go.
