लेत्तिंग गो (थ्रौघ मेदिततिओन)

LETTING GO!
As we enter a new year and a new decade, how much garbage are we carrying with us?
Over the quiet times of the last few days, I have asked myself that question, and have tried as best I can to let go of the garbage of the past and enjoy the "NOW"! Easier said than done.
As part of my recovery journey, I try, on a daily basis, to take a personal inventory of recent occurrences. Where I have been wrong or where the seeds of resentment or negative feeling have been planted, I try to address the issue immediately and keep the slate clean. My burden is far less today than the heavy baggage I toted years ago.
I am a believer in meditation.
When it was first suggested to me that I make meditation a part of my daily living, I rolled my eyes. I had no idea what meditation was and had visions of monks in the Himalayas chanting, or sitting at the foot of some bearded guru, a flashback to my semi- hippie days.
Seems I'm not alone. As I work with others and they open up, many tell me they really have no idea about how to meditate. For me, who needs things simple, meditation is simply slowing down my brain chatter and allowing myself to "Listen to and Hear" the small quiet voice inside.
The following talks about simple meditation as it relates to "Letting Go". Read it, think about it, and even more important, try it! It gets easier and more important in the maintenance of "Life Balance" as you use it.
"Letting go is the first step towards new beginnings. You need to release old thoughts, grudges, hurts and disappointments.

Old habits may die hard, but with a few little steps you can be rid of them forever.

One very effective way of ridding yourself of excess emotional baggage, is through visualization.

Find yourself a nice peaceful place where you will be undisturbed. Ensure that you make yourself as comfortable as possible, take a deep breath, and relax.

Continue to breath slowly in…and out…in…and out…letting go of all tension in your body. When you are ready, let your eyes close, and relax…Now as you relax and continue to breath deeply, notice any unwanted thoughts that come to mind…breath in deeply… and breath out slowly through your mouth… as you breathe out, imagine blowing the unwanted thought into a balloon…see the balloon expand as images of the unwanted thought are captured…continue to breath deeply… and blow any remaining images into the balloon…Now imagine a cord being tied tightly around the neck of the balloon…and as you now breathe out, let go of the balloon…letting go…a quietness of spirit…watch as the balloon drifts slowly away…notice the feeling of freedom and total relaxation as the balloon drifts… further… and further away…out of sight…out of mind…

This technique can be repeated as often as you feel the need, you can use the visualization for as many unwanted thoughts and images as you like. With practise, you will even be able visualize and release a whole bunch of unwanted thought balloons together, and watch as they slowly float away into oblivion."

It is amazing once you are use to it, how peaceful things can get simply by listening to the sound of your own breath (life) entering and departing and the answers you get in this quiet time! No mountains, no gurus, just some quality quiet time. Love to hear the results you get when you try it. Comments on this site or at www.hopeserenity.ca appreciated!