Letting Go
Perhaps the greatest lessons of my life have revolved around the slogan of the recovery movement: “Let Go and Let God”—a notion that involves relinquishing ego’s attachment to, or fear of, something. The single most pronounced attachment for most of us during the morning of our lives is the attachment to being right! There’s nothing ego loves more than to be right, which makes it an important and satisfying attachment to practice letting go of.
I seriously doubt that there’s anyone reading this who hasn’t engaged in arguing about trivial matters that turned into disagreements, which had a net effect of following a road of self-righteous anger. And all of it probably seemed to be for no reason other than the need, the desire, to be right! Eventually we may look back with wistful amusement, realizing now that our fear of actually being wrong was so strong then that another person’s opinion could energize this unwanted feeling. Ego’s strategy was to be right no matter what, a highly successful maneuver that effectively distracted us from genuine purpose. Letting go of an attachment to being right can be a fairly simple exercise.
So how can you choose to let go and let God, in a quest to eliminate an attachment to being right? You can handle it with these simple words spoken to another—You’re right about that. It stems from a soulful decision you make that when given the choice between being right and being kind—you’ll always choose to be kind. Saying “you’re right about that” will gradually open the entry point to a road that leads through letting go and letting God to experiencing a more significant life.
Part of the meaning we gain by letting go is a movement toward real contentment. Most stress in our lives results from hanging on to beliefs that keep us striving for more, because ego stubbornly believes we need it. When we make the shift away from attachment, the influence of our ego fades. We replace attachment with contentment. Chasing and striving—and then becoming attached to what we chased after—is a source of anxiety that feeds Ambition, but it won’t satisfy the need for Meaning at our soul level.
Topics: attachment, choose, contentment, kind, right
Letting go isn’t always easy. Learning how to handle stress and pain in your body can be learned and easily achieved by using your conscious awareness to feel how you tighten when stress happens to you.
Animals have to deal with stress often. They simply pandiculate, ie they use their brain and muscles to let go. Nature has a way out.
I HAVE PTSD DUE TO A LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE THAT HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO. I IBARELY KNEW THE PERSON THAT TRIED TO KILL ME. IF I HAD KNOW HIS CONDITION THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME. HOW DO YOU START TO TRUST AGAIN, HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THE FEAR?
Right now the hardest thing for me is to let go. I try so hard but sometimes I feel like when I take a step forward I take two steps back… I know by not letting go the pain will always be with me.
What a great message that cannot be overstated… Let Go, Let God. Strong influence from Loa Tzu and Jesus among other masters. We have yet to feel and recognize the aftershock of the shake-up of the foundations of our beliefs effected by some of our greatest masters that have come to our experience. Great Work. Love to all.
Namaste
I really needed to hear this tonight. I am always inspired
by your trail of wisdom. It leads me to practice the presence
of God in good times and in bad and I appreciate your work so
much. Ever grateful.
It is very difficult not to want to win and not wanting to always have the right, but I’m convinced it is a matter of practice! I do’t give up!
Accepting that the other person is right, is both kind and true. We’re all talking in tongues, reaching out to connect through the fog of our belief in separateness. I am reminded of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote, “Do not say things. What you are stands beside you all the while and thunders so loud I can’t hear what you say to the contrary.”
amazing, thank you Dr. Dyer… It has been quite a while on Maui which is the place where I live. I had to let go of all the abuse as a child and adult.I’ve changed my relationship with myself and my career in the coaching industry has changed and I am greatful to have read your books. ~ Corefast of Hawaii
Right on ! Dr.Dyer, you’re right again(no pun intended) Is it normal when letting go of all these attachements that there is almost a kind of separation anxiety(for lack of a better term) that can be felt ?
Namaste from Montreal Canada
Dr Dyer,
Thankyou so much for all your messages of comfort and kindness. I wish you might consider returning to Houston this year? Or even San antonio as it is not that far away. I am sorry that I missed you when you came last year. Thankyou again for all the words of life that we should live by.
Where do I go to ask Dr Dyer about a list of books to read that were the most inspiring in his lifetime?
A fine message to relay again on this Easter weekend when we are reminded of how Christ sacrificed for us and gained eternal life. I look forward to hearing you speak in person as I booked to attend the I Can Do It Carribean Cruise. This will be my very first trip and realization of many dreams! Thank you for your continue inspiration.
Being right, isn’t that the truth, what inspired me to let go of being right was a line from the movie adaptation of Adam’s “The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” – “I’d rather be happy than right!”
Became unemployed last week thru fault of my own and owning up to it was freeing… having to Let Go Let God…serioulsy, that was my exact mantra! (Pretty scarey stuff) Feel as tho the door is wide open instead of closed shut. Thanking you and sending healing and love Dr Dyer. Namaste’
Just what I needed to hear this fine morning, thank you!