Letting Go by Len Buchanan
Letting go means to un-attach, release, relinquish.
Who, what, when, where, why and how should we let go of? Anything—person, place, or thing; be it physical, mental, or emotional—that inhibits the unfolding of something positive, uplifting, constructive, and healing.
In letting go we lose illusion. In letting go we gain freedom.
In releasing our self from futile efforts, we reclaim energy we’ve been pouring into something that no longer serves us well. Two of the most difficult things for me to let go of are control and expectations. Perhaps you have something too.
Below is an excerpt from my book, Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth. It’s a true story about letting go; about how Susan Wisehart, author of Soul Visioning: Clear the Past, Create Your Future, used holographic time to take me forward in time to see my future self. I was somewhere in my very late eighties or early nineties, and I was referred to as Granny B.
One of the things that clinical hypnotherapists learn in our training is past-life regression. When it’s done accurately and well, it’s very interesting. But just like anything that you get a lot of (chocolate cake, pizza, ice cream), it can become monotonous or boring after a while. So when Susan Wisehart invited me to move forward in time, that really piqued my curiosity.
My husband, son, and I went to the Infinity Foundation in Highland Park, Illinois, where we were part of a group of about sixteen people. After the first part of the day, we returned from lunch to find that our chairs had been replaced with yoga-style mats, which we each lay on.
Susan started talking in a voice, tone, and rhythm that are common in hypnotherapy and guided imagery. I was thinking, Oh, brother, what’s new about this?
I can’t tell you the who, what, when, where, why, or how of it—I don’t have those answers—but I found my current self in a tropical location. It was as if all of my molecules and atoms came together—reassembled themselves—in that geographic location.
Looking around, I saw, in the near distance, my future self. She turned around and looked my current self square in the eyes.
I felt compelled to walk forward, hands extended. She took them in hers. And for some reason, I had the feeling that the clock was ticking very fast, that I was about to run to of time with her.
I looked into her eyes and said, “Please tell me what I need to do to get here.”
With a smile and a twinkle in her eye, she said, “Let go.”
It was at that point that I started wondering about my husband. And though I didn’t voice any questions, she answered me with her mind. Turning to my left, in the distance I saw Len sitting on the end of a dock wearing a baseball cap, fishing pole in hands, feet dangling over the water. He was obviously content. Somehow I “knew” that his back being to us meant he was dead. But I also “knew” that everything was okay. He was quite well on the other side.
Just then, a tall, slender young woman with shoulder-length brown hair came up with a tray of sweating glasses of water and said, “Grant B., would you like something to drink?”
Just like I “knew” about Len, I “knew” that she was my granddaughter. I would guess that she was somewhere in her late twenties or early thirties. In current time, my son was not even married.
I looked back into the smiling eyes of my future self, who was still holding my hands. She conveyed the message “let go” one more time (nonverbally), and I dissolved (for lack of a better description), and then everything came back together again. I was physically reassembled back at the Infinity Foundation in Highland Park.
To this day, I’m not exactly sure what it is that I’m supposed to let go of. I’m confident my future self wasn’t specific on purpose, because now every time I hit a bump in the road, my current self simply remembers her words.
In not being specific, she made letting go a current, regular practice.
Letting go is an example of something that is simple but not easy. It involves allowing things to change. It requires an ongoing examination and revision of closely held thoughts and ideas, and an ongoing willingness to release them.
© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com
Tuesdays with Laurie 
Good morning! Thanks for the reminder.
Good morning Terri – You are oh-so-welcome!
Lori, this is such a timely post. I, too, have had this message many times in my life. Once, when my daughter was a teenager, worried so much about her, I was at a workshop and drew an angel card. It showed a picture of a little blond haired girl getting on a bus. The words underneath were “let go.” All these years later those words shine as the best advice ever…but at the time it was so hard.
Last night I felt an even deeper commitment to let go to Spirit, to let go to that which supports. To let go even more of the mind’s judgments, comparisons, and attempt to control. My mantra today is “surrender me”. So thank you for this timeliness.
“… but at the time it was so hard.” Kathy, your words are so true. But you discovered, like me, that it’s well worth the effort. I love your mantra for today, “surrender me.” Wonderful! Thank you for stopping by this morning.
Timing is everything. How is it your Post is EXACLTY the message I need today?? Do you have any new thoughts about where you might have been when you met Grannie B?
Thank you for the energy received through your blog, it makes my day!
Lisa – I’m glad the timing of this post was just right for you. As to the location of my future experience… I remember seeing really tall bamboo and lots of palm fronds. So I don’t know if it was Eleuthera Island, or not. When we rented your home there in March, we didn’t see any bamboo.
Let me chime in with thanks for this perfect message to my heart at the exact perfect time Laurie.
Helen – I’m glad this struck a chord in your heart. Thank you for dropping by.
Good Morning Laurie,
Letting Go, seems to be what I have been doing lately. Family members, dogs, cats, kittens, (is 7 cats really too many? Yes! Even daughters who get married leave.)
My feelings on this are sharp.
Whatever the past was it’s gone. Good or bad, it is now a memory. Preserve it and appreciate it.
Try to remember that each day we wake up is a new day. A fresh start to your life. When you look back at your life you don’t want to say ” ya, for a year I wasted my time doing nothing but dwelling on the past.” You don’t get that year back!!
I know I sound hard, but if you are living in the present with love and enthusiasm and dedication you will be able to get to a point that says “I don’t want to waste the life I have dwelling on the past when all I have is in front of me.”
So, Live in the here and now and appreciate the moment.
Be inspired.
~Jean
http://www.jeanhartartwork.com
Jean – You don’t sound hard at all. Your message is spot on — and I’m glad you shared it here!
Laurie your story about your experience with your future self had me tingling all over in a kind of vibration sense that I do not experience often. Outstanding post:)
Terrill – I’m glad you enjoyed reading about it. Susan Wisehart is a wonderful woman and she’s somewhat in our geographic location so we get to see her and her husband Dave on a semi-regular basis. As always, thank you for visiting Speaking from the Heart.
I love your posts Granny B. I too have been trying lately to Let Go. I also want control and John is always telling me “Let go of the Wheel Beth….” It’s hard cause I always want things to go well. I guess it’s the project manager in me…..
Thanks!!!
Beth
Hey Miss Beth – It’s always good to see you here. I’ve sure been enjoying your posts over on your Celebration Goddess blog.
Being a Quality Manager, this is again “So dead on”…Thank you Laurie for yet another wise, caring, and personal response to a hard subject. I too try to control and have high expectations. On the one had it is necessry in my day-to-day interactions, however letting go at others times is so important and also appreciating that thingsa re not always going to be in my control or meet my expectations, much less be near perfect at all, I hope my boss will get that some day…LOL….
I sometimes feel I have let go too much, like wen my husband takes over things, or when the house is not up to my cleaning standards anymore, and quite honestly I am ok with….
I am basically coming to the realizations after knocking on my tough head for many years, that I am not in control at all, and I should be thankful for the journey thus far that I have been led on….
Kim
Kim – I like what you had to say about letting go of cleaning standards. I lowered mine so far that I can just step over them. Our house looks lived in. And that’s okay — we live there. For some great insight into the beauty of “imperfection,” let me point you to Terrill’s blog series on Wabi-Sabi that she started on February 16 (Wabi), February 17 (Sabi), an Wabi-Sabi on February 18th. She tops this all of on the 19th with Simplicity.
hi, Laurie — sounds like a wonderful course . . . when does it start? Now? So, it’s distance learning? Even though I heard many years ago that control is an illusion, I still struggle with actually learning that and dealing with it. Although I am in control of what I wear to work today, I am not totally in control of whether I get there or not. Although I expect to live well into my 90’s (am planning on it!), I am not totally in control of that either. Such an odd set of circumstances we find ourselves in . . .
Barbara – Unless circumstances change (and they might!), I plan on living into my 90’s as well (after all, I saw my future self — Granny B). I say we get together, Sandi too, and see just why it is you gals don’t think you can wear capri pants. Uh ho, maybe I can’t either and I’m just not aware of it …
All
I am having a major pharmaceutical company expedite the vaccine to the FDA for approval as we speak. It is a fatal disease called “CAPRIS” We need to quarentine Laurie until she is over the initial phases and then we can vaccinate. I will notify the state health department that there is a case right here in Mchenry County.
P.S. Everyone who does not have symptoms is immune to the ‘CAPRIS” disease and this immunity is strong….
Kim
Ha! Here is my response …
Laurie — THAT is a great picture! $4.50 capris! I love it. I am gonna hunt me down some fancy black ones to wear at our 95th birthday.
Barbara – It’s a date!
Great article!
Always nice reading things that back up your ways of thinking… Keep posting 🙂
Dan
http://www.eachoneteachwon.com
Good morning, Dan – thank you for visiting Speaking from the Heart.