If you’re like me (human), you’ve probably allowed something to hold you back at various points in your life.
Perhaps fear of failure, or fear of success, or fear of loss. Perhaps just the pull of old memories.
So many people are affected – and held back by – the fear that plagues our world right now, driven by the weak US economy and other global influences. We hear about it every day. Others are held back by broken hearts and feelings of unworthiness.
Your Choice
What I’ve come to truly understand in just the last few years is the power of our choices – conscious and subconscious.
We have the power to let go of what holds us back. We simply, yet not so easily, have to choose to let go and move on rather than to cling to what we know. Sometimes what we know, even when it’s fear or loneliness, feels safer than letting go and moving forward.
This poem was sent to me by a dear friend. She found it to be lovely and simply wanted to share…but she didn’t realize just how ardently I’ve been working on letting go of what has been holding me back. Serendipity, perhaps?
I hope you find it as inspiring as I did. You know you can exchange “she” with “he” and it remains fully real:
SHE LET GO by Ernest Holmes
She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.
She let go of the fear. She let go of the judgments. She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head. She let go of the committee of indecision within her. She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons. Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.
She didn’t ask anyone for advice. She didn’t read a book on how to let go. She didn’t search the scriptures. She just let go. She let go of all of the memories that held her back. She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward. She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.
She didn’t promise to let go. She didn’t journal about it. She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer. She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper. She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope. She just let go.
She didn’t analyze whether she should let go. She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter. She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment. She didn’t call the prayer line. She didn’t utter one word. She just let go.
No one was around when it happened. There was no applause or congratulations. No one thanked her or praised her. No one noticed a thing. Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.
There was no effort. There was no struggle. It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad. It was what it was, and it is just that.
In the space of letting go, she let it all be. A small smile came over her face. A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore.
~ What will you let go of today? Please share in the comments; I’d be honored to hear from you! ~
Need help defining a business vision, purpose and mission and the strategies to support them? Hire me for Visionary Leadership programs, and work with me by emailing me at Lisa@CLevelStrategies.com.
~
RELATED POSTS:
The Art of Moving Forward: the First Step
When Leadership Means Leaning On and Letting Go
How to Open Yourself Up to Receiving Abundance
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Photo is Letting go of the world by aithom2.
27 Response Comments
Beautiful. I always think of the image of the trapeze artist and what happens if she refuses to let go when it is time to fly and hold on to something new…..
David Lapin
Author: Lead By Greatness
David, *that* is a gorgeous analogy and visual image! Thank you so much for sharing it here!
I tell my clients to let go like a bobber. Imagine a bobber clinging to the weeds at the bottom of the lake, once it lets go it pops to the top effortlessly.
Likewise, people hold on to emotions, beliefs and fears at the bottom of their lake – when they know they can let go it really transforms them.
In my work the most powerful belief they need to let go of is the feeling of worthlessness. Once they realize and accept they have value, they pop up to the top of their job search and their next job finds them.
Alan, this is another beautiful way to think about it – thank you. And I agree, feelings of unworthiness are too pervasive, and oh so limiting. What a privilege it must be to see people attract something wonderfully new into their lives!
Hey Lisa,
Been a while since I graced these hallowed halls 🙂 Too long…
A simply moving and inspirational poem you shared. Like other humans, I too struggle with letting things go but I am working on it and I am getting there as I get everywhere in my life… with my wife right beside me, pushing me, inspiring me, supporting me…
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” – Lao Tzu
Steve,
It’s wonderful to have you back here, I hope it feels a bit like home. 🙂 You were missed! And you know, you are incredibly blessed to have someone along with you for the journey. As you and I both know, it can sometimes be a journey to get to the point where you’re ready for what’s described in the poem. Thanks for sharing the Lao Tzu quote – it means so much!
Lisa, your timing is impeccable. Thank-you. 🙂
The universe has its ways… You’re welcome. 🙂
Wow. That poem was mesmerizing. I definitely got a little choked up, which shows I have some things I still need to let go of (not-so-funny funny thing is, I don’t really know what they are.) Thanks for the moment of reflection, I apparently needed it.
Kirsten,
So glad to know that it touched you…hope you’ll be able to use it to dig deeper and figure out what they are. 🙂 And thank you for all your support!
Lisa…a terrific post and as Kneale noted, your timing is indeed impeccable. For many of us letting go can be tough, especially when there’s nothing visible to grab nearby. Steve’s Lao Tzu contribution was also inspiring. Many thanks.
Scott
I love hearing that it’s touching people in different ways. My reaction was the same, I was meant to read it – which is how I also knew I was meant to share it. Thank you, Scott!
Hi Lisa, thank you for this beautiful and inspiring post. Divinely timed and words so beautifully crafted, it touched me right where I needed it today. Thank you, Namaste
I’m so glad it found its way to you! Thank you for letting me know how it affected you – all the very best!
Reading inspiring stories sure refreshes the soul. Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome – thanks for sharing your thoughts, I sincerely appreciate it!
What a great post and a moving and powerful poem! Letting go seems so hard but your post reinforced that it doesn’t have to be. Thanks!
Thank you, Alli! I think we tend to make it hard by clinging to what we know – even if it doesn’t “serve us” it still feels safer than the unknown. Wishing you the best – and thank you so much for sharing!
Easy. I got up and got out of the house and met all kinds of wonderful people.
That continues today.
I hired a great career coach and gave up my defensiveness. I put a lot in her hands.
I let go of fear of failure, or embarrasing myself, and of commitments and began
social networking. The results have been fabulous. I now talk to, and they listen,
all kinds of famous people and decision makers. And they use my material.
In short, by letting go of fear, of risk aversion, of protecting myself, I changed my life around completely.
Everyone I know now treats me like a star. But they have it in themselves to do it too.
Hi Lisa, when I first started blogging I’ll admin I was afraid of what people would think of me. But I eventually got ever that and knew it was something I was going to love and enjoy so much. But I understand you point and the idea is to not let these things get in our way of what we love or want to accomplish.
Brian,
I’m so glad you got past that fear. And you absolutely have it – it’s critical not let go of what holds us back, even if it feels “comfortable.” It keeps us doing what we’re meant to do and what we have passion for. All the very best to you and thank so much for sharing your thoughts here!
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, suggestions and that gorgeous poem. Timing and opportunity are indeed wonderful gifts brought about by lovely people like you.
I have been slowly letting go of hidden fears in recent weeks and am feeling lighter every day. Your blog and Earnest’s poem have come at the perfect time to reinforce the true benefits of letting go. Thanks for the inspiration.
Kathie
Kathie,
You’re welcome and I’m so glad they both meant something to you. Thank you for taking the time to let me know – it means so much to me. Warmest wishes to you on your journey of letting go and moving forward uninhibited!
I’m letting go of all the anger the pain and trauma. I’m letting go of the father of my two aborted babies, I realise forgiveness and I let go
I let go of the love of my life 10 years two kids he don’t fill same so i let go hardest thing I had no one no
Family 🙁
Thank you for sharing this beautiful writing, Lisa. When a friend of mine sent “She Let Go” to me in an email today, I thought, “How odd that a man wrote this!” So I did a bit of research and found other attributions. I checked them out and Voila! The copyrighted author of this wonderful piece is Rev. Safire Rose (according to the email she wrote to me). I thought I’d connect in to a few places where I resonate to offer the correct attribution, and your Visionary Leadership is one of them. Thanks for your inspiration!