29 Ways to Let it go....Let it ALL go

Maybe you’ve come across one of those bumper stickers that reads Let That #$!% Go, or you’ve seen a T-shirt with the same expression and a serene image of Buddha. But how to let go?

- By Kathryn Drury Wagner

Some of us are ruminators who chew on a problem endlessly—often between 2 and 4 a.m. Sound familiar? Some of us are champion grudge holders, clinging to them for months or even years. Or maybe it’s a bad habit we’re trying to release, or a relationship that no longer serves us, or a painful memory from which we would just as soon move on. And sometimes our #$!% is physical, such as boxes in the garage or a storage unit. No matter what form it takes, baggage piles up. Here are ways to find sweet release.

1 EXPRESSIVE WRITING. Write for at least 15 minutes each day. Write only for yourself, not worrying about grammar, sentence structure, or any perceived audience. Just write down what’s bothering you, focusing on your feelings and any sensations that arise as you write. Then tear up the piece of paper and throw it out.

2 THROW TROUBLES OFF A BRIDGE. Shred up some leaves or grass to create organic confetti. Head for the nearest scenic bridge—even a little footpath will do. Cup the confetti in your hands, transferring whatever stress, worry, or grievance you want to unload, and scatter it into the wind.

3 MAKE LIKE A PIRATE. Take a small shovel and walk into the woods or along a beach. Dig a little hole, and with great intention, bury that sense of shame or the painful memory you want to release. Really visualize sticking it in there. Cover it back up with the sand or soil, tamp it down, and leave.

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