Buddy is a very intelligent and hyper-active fox terrier. Buddy has his favorite toy bone, and he loves it lots. One day, while playing with his bone, he tosses it near to his owner’s boat. The bone got tangle with the ropes. The owner not aware of the situation, starts the boat out to the sea, the bone was dragged into the water, but still tangled with the rope. Buddy jumps into the water, bite on it and refuses to let go. He was dragged way out into the deep sea. He struggles with the rope until finally he manages to get the bone out of the rope. By then, he was too tired to swim all the way back to shore, and drowned. Three days later, we found Buddy washed to shore, still holding on to the bone, which he refuses to let go. In Star Wars Episode III ‘Revenge of the Sith’, Yoda said “Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.”

This is Peter Ng. Welcome to my motivational series ‘Awakening the Power within You’ – Train Yourself to Let Go.

‘Letting Go’ is not about events and experiences nearly so much as it is about a person’s perception of the circumstances that occur in his/her life.

Buddy refuses to let go of his favorite toy bone; some refuses to acknowledge the loss of a loved one; some just want to hang on to the sinking ship and do not want to be rescued; and there are people who are in a new relationship but still lives in their past memories of the past relationship. The results of all these people are pent-up hostility. Refusing to deal with pent-up rage may open the door to early death. It is emotional pain that a person has suppressed. Hatred demands more and more emotional space until it crowds out all positive emotions. Bitterness only hurts one’s self. Refusing to let go either emotional or materialistic possessions have a high price to pay!

Don’t punish yourself with regret. It only poisons your daily life and robs you of the peace you long for. Instead, transform past pain into powerful force that propels you towards a better tomorrow.

Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today. Those who stare at the past have their backs turned to the future. Move past your past.

Shut out all of your past except that which will help you weather your tomorrows. The future is not something we enter; but we create.

Letting go requires you to harness the power of forgiveness. Those who forgive are those who choose to forgive. Forgiveness enables a person to release buried anger, resentment, bitterness, shame, grief, regret, guilt, hate and other toxic emotions that hide deep in the soul and make a person ill – both emotionally and physically. Forgiveness is not about forgiving others but also forgiving yourself.

Pursue the therapeutic value of joy – Happiness and joy are not the same. Happiness is a feeling of pleasure, contentment, or a sense of well-being that come from the outer environment or event that a person is experiencing. Joy is abiding or enduring. It comes from a feeling of contentment deep inside a person. Joy does not flow from situations. It flows from your will and your emotions deep within. Are you aware that the word silly comes from the Greek word selig, which means blessed? Indeed, there’s something very blessed in being silly, playful, and having the heart of a child:

• Develop a sense of play – see what you do as play, not work or chores.
• Delight in humorous stories – have fun with your challenges instead of dealing with them through fighting or fleeing.
• Discover Life-Goal Benefits – Find things you enjoy doing and do them frequently.
• Have a Purpose and Pursue it – What keeps you interested in life? What gives you a feeling of fulfillment?
• Cut Out the Criticism, Sarcasm, and Negative Jokes – positive humor unites hearts. The end result is laughter that results in optimism and an upbeat attitude.

Watch your thoughts, for they will become your words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny. Train yourself to let go, you will find life process is smoother and peace that dwells within you. May the Force be with You!