Letting Go

Change.

The idea is exciting. The possibilities seem endless. The thing about change though is that we fight it. We hold on for dear life to what we know. What is in the here and now. We hold the rope of familiarity so tightly that we can’t see what we want is on the other side. That something truly amazing and beautiful could be waiting for us. It’s when we let go of the rope that true change can begin.

My friend and her hubby built a zip line in their backyard. I am not a fan of heights. I climbed the ladder. I held the swing under me. All I had to do was trust what I’d already seen everyone else do that day. Let go. Let go of the platform. Trust that I won’t fall. I won’t hurt myself. I was scared of going down the zip line. What was more scary though was staying on that platform. Not getting to experience the fun I’d seen the kids having. Not showing my boys that I can face my fears. And honestly having to climb back down was not an option I wanted to take. So I closed my eyes, held on tightly, (maybe screamed) and let myself drop. The initial fall was terrifying. But then I glided. I was safe. I had fun. I had done it. The kids got a good laugh out of it too.

As I look back at the scariest, hardest, most gut wrenching moments of my life a few things stand out. I got through them. Even when I thought I would surely drown in pain or emotion, I got through it. One hour at a time. One day at a time. One week at a time. I got through it. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without those transformative life events. When I felt my world was ending I realized that there was an entirely other world on the other side. One that I completely would’ve missed out on if I hadn’t let go of the rope. Jumped into the fear of the unknown. The fear of failure.

The biggest blessings in my life and things I’m most proud of have all come from the hardest moments of my life.

I’m also proud. Every experience helped shape me into the person I am today, and is propelling me closer to the person I want to be. Do I still occasionally hold on to what I know? What is here and now? Of course. I’m human. Plus it’s good to have a healthy dose of fear. Anyone with a fearless toddler or thrill seeking kid will surely tell you this.

I encourage you today to take inventory. Are you holding onto a rope? Are you hurting your hands and exhausting yourself fighting a change in your life? Are you on the platform and afraid to let go? I can tell you from experience that letting go will be so powerful and freeing. It will also be terrifying. However it will also be worth it in the end.

What are you ready to let go of? If it’s something you can’t do alone, ask for help. Letting go can be a big task and I’d bet there are people in your life that are ready to help you. They’ll be the ones at the bottom of the platform telling you that you’ll be okay.