Midweek Wellness: How to Let Go, a Mindfulness Exercise

In the day to day, with the stress and even sometimes chaos of life, it's easy to eventually find one's self in the thick of it. Feeling weighed down by situations and stressors that are out of our control.

In recent years, the idea to “let it go” has been more and more popularized as a remedy to this heaviness.

Let go of the stress, let go of offense, let go of pain. Anything you can’t control? Let it go. Anything that hurts? Let it go.

Mel Robbins, a bestselling author and podcast host, has made her name by encouraging the mantra, “let them”. Let them think, let them say, etc.

This is one of many sentiments on this solution to stress, promise of peace. Letting go is a powerful tool.

But what if you can’t just “let go”?

What should you do then? When a stressful, painful, offensive, or negative experience happens, and you just can’t shake the feeling. When “just letting go” feels too arbitrary?

Below is an exercise we’ve found proves helpful in this situation. If you’re stuck, find a quiet space and give this a try.

_________
First, close your eyes. Hold out your hands as if you’re carrying something.

Now, imagine the stress (or painful moment or negative feeling, etc.) is tangible in your hands. You are holding it out in front of you. Use your mind’s eye to see it, and try to feel it in your hands. If you feel it in your heart or your head, take it from there and hold it in your hands.

Once you can imagine it in your hands in front of you, comes the next step. With your eyes still closed, see in your imagination the stress (or whatever you’re holding) begin to float upward out of your hands. Watch it rise into the air and sky above you. Watch it dissipate and rise into the air, until you cannot see it anymore. Even if you can still “feel” it, imagine this happening.

Now, in your imagination your hands are empty. Keep them held open. Again with your eyes closed, watch in your imagination as tangible peace comes down in return and sits in your hands. Hold it there and see and feel it in your hands. Once you are in this space, holding peace, stay for as long as you would like or as long as you need.

Once you feel finished with the exercise, open your eyes and breath in the peace you received. Feel free to repeat this as many times as you need throughout the day.