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Today I Choose Letting Go Rather Than Holding On

I had the opportunity to experience my first hot air balloon ride sometime back. Unlike skydiving?—?which is exhilarating beyond measure?—?I found hot air ballooning more calming as you glare at the horizon.

Floating through the sky at an elevation of 5,000 feet in nothing but a basket attached to a nylon and polyester balloon?—?doesn’t exactly paint the picture of calm. Yet everything about it was tranquil. The air was dry but smooth as the sweet sound of silence and spectacular Colorado views unfolded around us.

The reason I share this experience isn’t to advocate hot air ballooning (but if it’s on your bucket list please go for it). My intention is to share an epiphany I had while puttering through sky-i.e the act of letting go. 

My mother always says to close my eyes and place a hurtful situation I was experiencing into a red balloon and release it into the air. That is also a part of letting go. 

It was hard to imagine how sending something off into the sky was a mindful act. It felt spiteful and immature to banish my pain-filled balloon into the clouds. It didn’t feel like a genuine way to truly let go. I didn’t yet understand the value in letting go.

My experience of drifting through the blissful skies helped me to reflect on how I view letting go. It helped me see letting go can be peaceful?—?it doesn’t have to be hard. 

These are some of the insights that breathtaking ride inspired me to accept it with an open heart :

The act of letting something go can be done in a mindful way.

If you are ready to wrap your hurt in a red balloon and let it go, know that where you are releasing it is filled with immeasurable beauty and awe. Imagine that kind of peace extinguishing the hurt and liberating your soul.

Every situation, positive and negative, is attached to an important lesson.

Rather than dwelling on the hurt, shine some light on the lesson. Find gratitude for the hidden gifts within the learning.

When you come across people or situations that provide challenging and uncomfortable lessons?—?know you can let those people or situations go, while still holding onto the valuable insights you were blessed to learn.

Believe me, every bitter experience will make you a better person. 

It is okay to let things go. It is okay, it is okay, it is okay.

Holding on to what continually causes us pain will provide more of the same?—?until we choose differently and wisely. Letting go of old ways of thinking and behavior pattern opens us up to a fresh start.

YOU deserve joy!

Most importantly, know to your very core you are worthy of experiencing the joy and lightness on the other side of letting go. Remind yourself that you are the one who decides whether or not you release what’s holding you back from your joy.

Present is a present.

One of the most amazing truths about life is that IF we are here right now in this very moment, we are so blessed! Focus on that and in an instant it becomes easier to let go of everything else.

You get to decide when it’s time to let go of what doesn’t feel good in order to enjoy all that does. Give it a try and see what happens when you let go.