Before you embark upon your New Year’s Resolutions, you must create the space for those new experiences, relationships, workout routines, hobbies, etc. by letting go of those things that no longer serve you.
While it’s a tradition in many cultures to do a thorough cleaning of your home and burn your Christmas tree (or other items you wish to part with) on New Year’s Eve, I’m not just referring to letting go of the material objects that you don’t need. New Year’s Eve is an auspicious date to… also release the mental and emotional baggage that weighs you down and prevents you from progressing with ease on your journey. Learning how to let go of this mental and emotional baggage will assist you in growth in every area of your life, as well as achievement of your goals for 2012. In this post, I will explain just how you can learn to let go.
First, realize what you need to let go of. If you don’t really know what you need to let go of, there’s no way you can get rid of it!
Do you have a “need” to always be right? This can hinder your relationships because others see you as argumentative, disagreeable, and annoying. If the last “conversation” you had with a good friend or someone you love was a “debate” in which you were trying to convince the other person that you have the superior mind and the superior belief about some arbitrary subject, you might want to release this need to always be right if you ever want to have a fulfilling relationship with anyone — ever.
Do you have a “need” to control other people? Are you constantly concerned about what your significant other (or friend, family member, co-worker, random stranger, etc.) is eating or drinking, how much sleep they’re getting, where they’re living, who they hang out with, what they do each day, etc. instead of actually focusing on yourself? Are you avoiding thinking about your own daily habits by filling up your mental space with fixation on what someone (or everybody) else is doing? If so, it’s time to stop. You can’t control other people, and chances are that other people think you’re pushy, psychotic, and mean. Let go of this need to control, and 2012 will be a better year for you.
Do you have a habit or an addiction that’s preventing you from doing the things you want to do “someday” or “tomorrow?” For instance, if you’ve been intending to finally start practicing yoga, go hiking on the weekends, or workout with a trainer at the gym at least three days a week, but you keep putting it off because you don’t want to miss an episode of your favorite TV show, the evening news, or the latest status updates of all the people you’re stalking on Facebook, you’ve got to let this addiction go or you’ll never create space for physical activity.
Are there items in your kitchen that are preventing you from eating a healthier diet? Do you keep returning to the grocery store to get “one last bag” of chips, and then you’ll start your new diet? It’s time to clean out your pantry, refrigerator, countertops, office desk, and any other area where you stash unhealthy items that you need to let go of. Throw it out and go cold turkey. Starting January 1, resolve to not have “just one bite” of whatever foods are hindering your higher goals of releasing an illness or excess weight in 2012.
There are countless other examples of behaviors, habits, toxic relationships, emotions, addictions, foods, etc. that you may need to let go of. To get clear on what you need to release (if you aren’t clear already), take some time on New Year’s Eve to sit quietly away from any distractions and just breathe. Don’t try to think of anything. Just sit and breathe, and after about 5 minutes the answer will usually appear.
Now that you’re really clear on what you need to release, you can symbolically eradicate it in order to help you physically eradicate it come January 1.
One way of symbolically letting go of something you don’t need is to gather some flowers from the woods or your local farmer’s market, or use some wilted flowers that you have not yet thrown away. (If you do not have flowers, you can use something else such as dried beans or avocado pits.) Build a fire in your fireplace or make a bonfire outside. Each wilted flower (or avocado pit, bean, etc.) symbolizes something you need to let go of. When you’re ready to finally let go, hold one flower in your hand, take a deep breath, and exhale as you release the wilted flower into the fire. This will notify your unconscious mind that you’ve already let go of whatever it was, so now your conscious mind will have an easier time at releasing it when you are challenged to hold onto it.
If you still feel like your willpower needs a bit more of a boost to fully let go, there’s an ancient tonic herbal formulation that was first described over 2000 years ago in a medical textbook called the Shang Han Lun. This alchemical combination of wild herbs and minerals is commonly used in the treatment of addictions (such as quitting smoking, alcoholism, and even drug use), but it is mild and gentle enough to assist with releasing more benign “addictions” such as the need to always be right or the need to control others. You can read more about the herbal formula here: http://www.holisticchineseherbs.com/addiction/ancient-tonic-herbal-formula-for-seasonal-fasting-and-breaking-addictions/
Now you’re ready to start fresh for 2012 and begin achieving your goals for the year! If you missed the post on how to look your best and radiate positive energy in 2012, check it out by clicking here.
