Hi All,
Please forgive the infrequent blog posts. I recently went through a relocation of my own. Being in the organizing business, you would think that moving would be a piece of cake. But, of course, transitions are challenging for all of us. And a challenge is all how you look at it.
In addition to the mountain of decisions to be made, there is the emotional component of letting go of what we already have to get what we want. A new place can be exciting and scary at the same time. Each time we let go of the past in pursuit of the future, we grow. But growth can be an uncomfortable and confusing process involving faith, acceptance and courage. Not for the timid!
Fear of letting go can cause us to put obstacles in our own way and prevent us from living a joyful, passionate and rich life.
A strategy that has helped me let go during a transition is letting go with GRACE.
Yes, GRACE is a word...
grace: noun, verb
1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action
2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment
3. favor or goodwill
4. mercy; clemency; pardon
...but for me, GRACE is also an acronym:
G - Gratitude: The process of letting go of anything or anyone becomes easier when we focus on gratitude. It is easy to become overwhelmed by loss and forget to count your blessings. In the words of the Dalai Lama, "It is worth remembering that the time of greatest gain in terms of wisdom and inner strength is often that of greatest difficulty."
R - Reverence: Letting go is no easy task, and we do it every day of our lives. A thought, a fear, an object, a friend: we will let go of many of these in our lifetime. Foster a deep respect for all of these while you are present with them and you will find that letting go becomes less about being separated and more about how closely all thoughts, objects and people are connected, no matter the circumstances. Circumstances may keep us physically apart, but reverence for the collective consciousness keeps us united.
A - Abundance: John Steinbeck said, "Don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens. The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away." We often hold on tightly to objects and opportunities because we are afraid. Afraid of living with the wrong decision; afraid of missing a chance or making a mistake. In these moments, I have found it helpful to remember that our universe is abundant with opportunity. Everything good is available to us if we choose it!
C - Compassion: Loss and transition are not easy. When we have difficulty navigating them, we can sometimes fall victim to feelings of inadequacy. And then, of course, there's SHAME (Should Have Already Mastered Everything). If you are prone to self-judgement (who isn't?), let the letter "C" remind you to be compassionate to yourself. No one would look at an acorn and say, "Why haven't you turned into an oak tree yet?" Allow yourself the love and compassion that you need during the process of letting go.
E - Enthusiasm: "When one door closes, another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us." – Alexander Graham Bell. Each time something ends, something else begins. Each time an object we no longer need is released, we create space for something else (not necessarily another object) to manifest. It may sound like a cliche, but it's actually more like a law of nature. If your enthusiasm for new beginnings can outweigh your trepidation, letting go can be full of grace.
Organize the small...make room for the BIG!!
