Time To Give Up?

Happy end of March! Even though it's been a really mild winter in New England this year, I've been feeling like spring is in the air recently. I want to spend as much time outside as I can so I'm going to dive right into this week's Bloom and then head out again.

"Over the years I've heard, Never give up. Don't let go. Never stop. Now, with a little wisdom under my belt, I've realised it's not always the best advice."

There's something to be said for developing discipline. It helps us stick with something and often reap the benefits. As a kid growing up it was considered bad form to be a quitter and giving up wasn't an admirable option. Sometimes, if, for example, it meant learning to play and ultimately enjoy a musical instrument, it felt like good advice. Sticking with something can have its rewards.

Staying with something (or someone), just so we won't be called out for "giving up" isn't always the best route. When I first started sitting in mindfulness classes, there was a cartoon going around. It was a person holding onto a very large boulder as they were going deeper and deeper under water. At the bottom it said, "Can't ... let ... go". Of course, not letting go meant the person would drown. All they had to do was stop hanging onto the big rock. This metaphor got me thinking about what I was clinging to ... my stubbornness, pride, need to be right?? I realized I had been clutching my anger, my negative attitude, even the chip on my shoulder and I didn't want to give it up. Then I realized I was going to drown in my self-righteousness if I didn't let it go. Remember how popular the song "Let It Go" became when the movie Frozen was released and still is? The team, Anderson-Lopez, that wrote it said, they knew that the character Elsa was ashamed and afraid. [We] pitched the idea of it being about letting go of her past, letting go of the expectations... by doing this, she ends up finding her power. All too often, something we think we can't give up is what actually holds us back and keeps us from living fully, gratefully, and with joy. What can you release? What are you gripping and holding onto for dear life (with little to no return)? I'll leave you with a quote from the author Osayi Osar-Emokpae: “Quitting is not giving up, it's choosing to focus your attention on something more important. Quitting is not losing confidence, it's realizing that there are more valuable ways you can spend your time. Quitting is not making excuses, it's learning to be more productive, efficient and effective instead. Quitting is letting go of things (or people) that are sucking the life out of you so you can do more things that will bring you strength.” This is what I wish for you. Elsa had help and support from her sister Anna. Do you need help? Contact me and let's talk about three things you can do to feel better.