There is a local dry cleaner in my town that posts inspirational quotes on their marquee. The quotes usually make me laugh and always make me smile, so whether I’m dropping off my laundry or just driving by, I always remember to read what they have posted. This week’s quote provided much food for thought.
“Giving Up is Different Than Letting Go” is up on the marquee this week.
I thought about it as I got back into my car. What does that really mean? “Giving up” means failing, settling, feeling defeated, selling myself short. But “letting go” feels like empowerment, a sense of relief, exhaling, and a willingness to release something (or someone) that no longer serves me.
There is so much truth and wisdom in those seven words.
When Life Gets Hard
Hearing “go with the flow” used to drive me crazy. I would think, “I don’t go with the flow. I want to do it my way, the way I think it should be.” I thought I had all the right answers on what was best for me, but in fact I was trying so hard to move a mountain or rolling a boulder uphill – and hoping it would not bowl me over instead.
When life gets hard or seems impossible or roadblocks come up and stop me, when I am feeling anxious, stressed, and frustrated, I’ve learned these are good indicators to pause and check in on what is really going on. Maybe that house, that car, that job, that relationship is not for me.
I ask myself: “Is this situation serving me for my best and highest good, or is hurting me, sending me backwards in life?” If I know it’s sending me backwards, I let go.
But when things come to me easily, it’s because that’s the way it’s supposed to be. I’ve worked hard to recognize the signs and be open to them – and that lets me know I’m on the right path. I’ve learned to trust that inner wisdom. I don’t always get it right, but I’m happy to say that more often than not, I know that I can trust my decisions.
Remember life is a journey … and letting go is a great way to live your life. And never forget to look around and be present in everything you do.
You never know where you’ll find your daily inspiration.