Spirit Online
January 24, 2010
Thoughts
A classic Charlie Brown cartoon shows the round-headed protagonist apologizing to a glowering Lucy after dropping a baseball. “I’m sorry I dropped that easy fly ball, manager,” Charlie Brown says. “As it was coming towards me, I thought I could catch it … but then I remembered all the other ones I had dropped. I guess the past got into my eyes.”
Like Charlie Brown, many of us sometimes “let the past get into our eyes.” We find it difficult to move forward in a positive way, because we are holding on to past disappointments and failures.
One of the most powerful spiritual practices is letting go of our negative emotions, thoughts and beliefs. Letting go cleanses, purifies and renews our hearts and minds, and enables us to move forward in a greater and more positive way.
Unfortunately, most of us are not very good at letting go. Our culture has engrained us with the belief that letting go of something means we are losing it. We worry there won’t be anything left, and about what our lives will be like afterward. We’re afraid to let go of familiar things like dreams, jobs or relationships – even if they are causing us pain – because saying goodbye to them changes who we are, how we think of ourselves, and how we look at the world.
Letting go creates a sudden vacuum, and that emptiness can scare us. But opening space is what allows the creation of new and wonderful things. Consider, for example, the Book of Genesis, which describes how the world was created from the void!
So what does it take to “let go”? How do you liberate yourself from the past so you can move forward to fulfill your goals and desires?
First, you must release possessions that no longer serve you. We think having a lot of “stuff” makes us safe … but it actually clogs up our lives, blocks our creative energy and takes up space that prevents good things from coming forth. Today, make an effort to clean out a closet, drawer or garage. Consciously choose one thing every day to give away for the next 30 days. This powerful practice will lighten you, brighten you, and create more space for good to come into your life.
Next, you must release negative emotions. Most of us are holding on to some type of anger, disappointment, bitterness, fear or blame. It’s important to liberate ourselves from those negative emotions through forgiveness. Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore said we should spend a half hour every night forgiving and releasing all the little disappointments and resentments that built up during the day. Doing so cleanses, purifies and renews us, and allows a fresh start with each new dawn.
Last, you must release negative beliefs. Many of us hold on to unhealthy beliefs such as, “I’m not lovable.” “I’m not good enough.” “There isn’t enough for everyone.” “You can’t trust people.” “Life is always a struggle for me.” Conduct some honest self-examination to discover what beliefs you currently have that are not serving your greater good. What beliefs are holding you back from a greater level of being, from a greater level of joy and fulfillment?
When you pinpoint an unhealthy belief, flip it around and practice thinking that just the opposite is true. If your belief is that you’re “not good enough,” begin telling yourself over and over again that you ARE good enough. Ask yourself, How would I act if I were good enough? How would I feel? How would I think? This exercise will begin to liberate you from that belief, and free you to move on to greater things.
Letting go of limiting beliefs will help to inspire and liberate others around you, as well! For example, it was believed for decades that no one could run a mile in less than four minutes … but in 1959 Roger Bannister did exactly that. Within one year of his achievement, 23 additional runners had also broken the four-minute barrier. Inspired by his grand achievement, they moved on to accomplish more themselves.
What will it take to break through your own barriers? Are you willing to let go of negative emotions and beliefs? Are you ready to move on to bigger and better things?
Today, make a conscious effort to eliminate all the negativity in your life. Let go of everything that no longer serves you. Release all of your negative energy through forgiveness. Break through any beliefs that are holding you back.
You have the power to achieve all of your dreams. You can move your life forward to greater possibilities. But first, you must let go.
God bless you!
Prayer
Living, loving Spirit, open my heart today to new possibilities. Create in me a clean heart. Help me to release what no longer serves me. Help me to heal all that burdens me. Help me to free myself from all that is holding me back, so that I can be renewed and move forward to greater joys and possibilities. I open myself to the infinite love and light of Spirit. I celebrate the magnificence of who I am and all that I am able to achieve. I breathe in the fullness of God and life, and feel the power of Spirit moving in and through me. Thank you for the power to create my feelings and my life’s desires. Thank you for all the blessings in my life, and all the good that is yet to come. Thank you for the knowledge that God’s perfect work is being done in my life, now and always. Amen.
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