Letting Go

I recently heard an interview with a meditation expert. She said we need to exercise our "letting go"
muscle. I love this idea!

Letting go is hard. 

Even if what we are holding onto is painful. Letting go takes practice. 

In the Spiritual Exercises, a form of prayer developed by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, one of the first lessons asks us to observe our attachments. Like the word implies, attachments are things we cling to. These might be things we love and desire very strongly. Or things that cause us discomfort, pain, and anger.  

Whether positive or negative, when attachments get out of balance, they can become a barrier to our relationship with God.

"If we feel a disorder in our attachment...we should take it to the Lord and pray insistently to be given the grace to free ourselves from such disorder. What we want above all is the ability to respond freely to God..." ~ from the Spiritual Exercises

If you are feeling stuck, stop to consider what you might be clinging to that has disordered your life. 

Take a deep breath and ask God to give you the grace to free yourself. 

Remember, your letting go muscle may not be strong enough to release it on the first try. 

That's okay. Letting go takes practice. 

Pray insistently and God will give you the grace to be free.

"Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith." ~ Hebrews 12:1–2