The Art of Letting Go

Something is holding you back. Weighing you down? Can you feel it? The resistance to - doing the work to replace a limiting belief, or to setting a new goal, or to forgiving someone who hurt you, or to taking the class, or asking for the raise?

Are you feeling resistance? Like your body is telling you to back up a couple of steps? Are you avoiding moving forward? That’s resistance. I have come across a tool that you will find invaluable when trying to let go of these types of feelings. Let go and move forward. It is called the Sedona Method and Hale Dwoskin wrote an entire book on it. Fascinating. If you want to know the science and history behind it and every possible application then I highly recommend you get yourself a copy of this book.

The process goes like this:

Step 1: Think about your feeling

• Close your eyes

• Take 3 long, deep breaths

• Think about setting a new goal

• Feel the feelings that come to you

Step 2: Welcome the feeling

Allow yourself to welcome anything and everything that comes to you. Feelings in your gut, your chest, images that come to your minds eye.

Ask yourself "Can I allow myself to welcome this feeling?

Step 3: Letting Go

Ask yourself "Can I let this feeling go? Answer with whatever comes immediately to your mind. Both 'Yes' and 'No' are acceptable answers.

Step 4: Would I?

Regardless of your answer in Step 3, ask yourself “Would I? Am I willing to let this feeling go?”

Step 5: When?

If the answer in Step 4 was ‘no’, then ask yourself ‘If not now, when?’. The simple step of asking this question may trigger a release – a lighter feeling.

Step 6: Repeat the Process

Repeat the process until you are free of the feelings you are trying to release. Sometimes this is like an onion and you will peel away the negative feelings in several sessions, until none remain.

If you have trouble letting saying yes to letting go of a feeling - or feeling a difference, give yourself permission to hold on for a moment. When you give yourself permission to do what you are already doing, you will find it becomes easier to make a new decision.

This is a powerful process which can be used to let go of negative feelings in every area of your life.

Here is your challenge for today and beyond. Pick a situation that is bothering you, from your distant past or just this morning. Feel those feelings and walk yourself through steps 1 through 6 and feel how you feel after the process. Strive to become more aware of when something happens that triggers negative feelings in you, do this process. Release them and you will reduce the levels of stress you carry with you and you will be happier for it.

I would love to hear your experience with this process and happy to answer any questions you have. Join my community and introduce yourself. I am looking forward to meeting you there!

Linda Short of Elle Short Coaching is a certified health and life coach. I help people struggling with where they are to create their own life story and take action toward their life vision. So that they can get unstuck, find joy in each and every day, and live their best life.