Welcome back. Just to recap for those of you who might have missed our first blog post of December- this month our wellness aspect we focus on is “letting go”. So we will start right out today with what it means to let go and why this topic is on a health and wellness blog.

One of my absolute favorite sayings of all time is the Serenity Prayer:

“God, grant me the serenity- to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things that I can. And the wisdom to know the difference.”

Letting go is like the first line reads- to accept the things I cannot change. Letting go means not forcing it, not gripping it, not trying to control it.

To let go can mean we live more fully in the present moment. We avoid agonizing, worrying or re-living the past. I know when I was in high school- if I did something bad or got into trouble with a teacher- I’d think about it over and over and over… and over again! I’d worry and worry. I’d relive the scenario. I’d replay the words, actions and reactions. I’d think it through and analyze it to death. Letting go is allowing the past to be as it is and to move your attention to the present moment (as much as you can… it takes practice, for sure).

Another piece that comes into play is the subtle discomfort of certain things inside of us. Maybe we don’t like how picky we are. Maybe we are trying to quiet our quick temper. Perhaps we don’t like to think about how selfish we can come across. These things are a part of us. Each thing that is a part of us is us. The more that we fight against it- the more it grows. Letting go can mean that we accept ourselves in totality- we accept ourselves just as we are and let go of the desire to change things around.

Because, what we resist persists. What we think about becomes stronger. We feed that which we hold tightly onto. When we can loosen our grip and exhale- when we can let go- we dissolve those emotions, memories, thoughts or feelings away. They just melt into and become a part of us.

As nurses, letting go can mean allowing in help. Letting go can help us to realize that we may not have to do it all on our own. When we let go we can allow in assistance and support. We let go of our pride, our need to do it all and our control of the way we want it. Letting go can mean making things easier and smoother for us in all of our experiences- professionally and personally.

Letting go can help us embrace more health because when we live in this way we can find some relief. Being able to ask for help, living in the present moment, and easing the tension of our tightly held gripped memories, beliefs or issues can be so empowering. We find lightness and peace when we learn to let go. We live carefree and joyful when we release the pressure. Letting go allows the removal of tension, tightness or strain.

What comes to mind for you when you think about letting go? How would you define this term? What does letting go do for your well-being?