In last week’s Wellness Wednesday, I shared the inspiration I experienced in watching my friend Christine Van Loo perform as an aerial gymnast. The principle underlying Christine’s beautiful and athletic performance is necessary if we are going to flourish in our experiences and relationships: hang on to what you ought to hang on to and let go of what you ought to let go of.
Last week we focused on the hanging on part of that principle. Now let’s consider the letting go part. As we journey through life, we tend to acquire baggage. If we want to flourish as we journey through life, we need to let go of the baggage we collect that is not in our best interest. Baggage can take the form of beliefs, relationships, experiences, possessions, and habits.
Wellness Wednesday readers have shared some examples of baggage they should let go of:
- Replaying negative experiences that have resulted in putting myself down when I make a mistake.
- Worrying that bad things are going to happen to people close to me.
- Needing to please others even if it means neglecting my own needs.
- Avoiding conflict because I’m afraid people will leave me.
But we can also let go of what we ought to hang on to. Wellness Wednesday readers have shared the following examples of things they should hang on to:
- Approaching each day with a positive attitude.
- Forgiving people when they have said or done something that is offensive.
- Persevering when things are incredibly challenging.
- Taking responsibility when it would be easier to blame someone.
Realize that sometimes:
- we don’t feel like letting go of what we ought to let go of
- we feel like letting go of what we ought to hang on to
Reflection:
- Identify 3 things that would be beneficial if I let them go.
- Identify 3 things that I am letting go of that I ought to hang on to. How would hanging on to these be beneficial?
Be aware of how you are experiencing ‘letting go’ as you journey through this next week.
From our Top 20 team…Kevin Brennan, Willow Sweeney, and Tom Cody…who have demonstrated how to let go of what we ought to let go of.
Paul Bernabei
Director
Top 20 Training
paul@top20training.com
