Friday musings - Letting Go!

I was standing by my window watching the first of the autumn leaves fall, when it came to me that trees, unlike people, are very good at letting go.

Autumn leaves

The deciduous trees drop their leaves in autumn when the leaves have served their purpose, allowing new growth to happen in the spring. Gum trees let go and peel off their bark, allowing their “new skin” to show.

We all have times when we have to let go of something or someone.

We need to let go of jobs that are not fulfilling and enjoyable. We need to let go of relationships that are toxic and holding us back.

Parents need to let go of their children when they are grown, to allow them to make their own way in life.

We sometimes need to let go of a house in which we have lived for some time and move into more suitable accommodation. 

We need to let go of possessions that we have accumulated and no longer need and sometimes people or situations let go of us.

At another level, we need to let go of old beliefs and behavior patterns that are no longer serving us. It is important to let go of old resentments, angers, jealousies, hurts; old ways of thinking that keep us locked up in the past.

And sometimes we have to let go of someone that we love.

Bark peeling off a Gum tree

What stops us from “Letting Go”? Basically it is fear. Fear of what will happen to us if we let go. Fear of the unknown. Fear of being hurt and fear of being out of control. Fear of all sorts of real and imaginary things that keep us in a state of paralysis, and stop us from moving forward in our lives.

We know when we have to let go of something or someone. At least we know in our hearts that is what we need to do, but our minds often tell us something different. So we allow our mind to keep us holding on.

Does this make us happy? No it does not. In fact holding on can make us sick.

We need to listen to what is in our heart, what we know deep down is right for us and for others that may be involved. So there comes a time when we have to take a deep breath, conquer our fear and just Let Go.

Hilary Thompson

The Out and About Therapist