Let it go

Maneuvering the labyrinth of life is, in reality, maneuvering the labyrinth of the mind.

We experience life through our perceptions. It’s the same situation, but it’s how we perceive it that determines our experience. The challenge is to be able to perceive with clarity and compassion. The challenge is to be aware of our own issues so that they don’t hold sway over us and inadvertently lead us to see situations in a negative way.

The challenge is to be able to take on life positively. Life is what it is. People are what they are. Life is not within our control. The ideal is to be able to navigate amid these sometimes charming, oftentimes frustrating diversities and still be intact. Even better: learning... growing. My continued profound experience is that we are not alone. Reality is not just physical. It is definitely not just mental, which more often than not can be a distortion many times over. There is a spiritual world and spiritual beings care for us, and for our country. Life viewed through a spiritual lens lends a charm and a gloss, sometimes even humor when it is seemingly most difficult.

In these lines, let me focus on something that would be good to have as we enter the new year.

Forgiveness.

When one continues to see things negatively, or harbors hurts and pains even if one has been wronged... that state of mind is heavy. So much so that it can even feel physical. A heaviness in the nerves. Ultimately if the heaviness is not addressed, it does translate to sickness. I so love the song from Frozen — Let It Go.

It is a good dictum to apply to life. To move forward. To let it go. We need to see the gold in the imperfection. Let me share with you excerpts from an essay my sister sent me over the holidays. I edited it a bit to make it more understandable.

In adversity, we should pause and meet whatever is happening inside us with an attitude of unconditional friendliness. Instead of turning our jealous thoughts or angry feelings to the enemy, we should pay attention in a way that enables us to recognize and touch any experience with care. Nothing is wrong — whatever is happening is just “real life.”

In essence we don’t allow ourselves to get stuck in the complexity of the situation because that will bring us round and round in an eternal debilitating circle. We determine not to get sucked into the chaos of endless thinking. We rather look at the situation from our heart — and the light-infused space of a mind that is not dominated by anger and hurt feelings.

There is a way. Go out to nature. Take a swim. Run. Soak in a warm bathtub with epsom salts. Put in a few drops of lavander. Submerge yourself in the bath — totally. 

Let it go. Run with abandon amid the trees (La Mesa Watershed is great for an early morning run). Let it go. Take a whiff of frankincense or lavander, or lemon or serenity essential oil. Breathe directly to the brain. Let it go.

Offer. That’s so important. Allow the light  to infuse your being and lift the heaviness away.

You will immediately experience that if you see the situation differently,  in your heart you will feel more joy. It will be like a sigh of relief — “Whew! I am glad that is over.” You might even see the jewel of growth that has been embedded in the situation, one that your anger did not allow you to take advantage of.

Allowing anger or hurt to ferment over the years is like inflicting pain on oneself. It’s just not worth it. Let it go. Let it go. It doesn’t mean effort won’t be exerted to try to make things better.

To reiterate: life is not in our control. If desired results don’t materialize,  my experience in life is that there is a Higher Reason for everything. Always. Then again, being in a Higher Space sometimes has a way of working wonders in the physical world. It is quite unpredictable.

The non-negotiable determination is we keep ourselves clean and light. We let it go and continue to feel the magic embedded in life.

We welcome the new year! We have this life. Lets enjoy its magic.

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 I can be reached at regina_lopez@abs-cbn.com