Strength to Let Go

"Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of 

great strength.  However, there are times when it takes much more 

strength to know when to let go and then do it."

Ann Landers

Women tend to have a built in nature to be kind. They can be resilient and endure misfortune as skills to protect both family and children.  Although this sounds courageous, it can lead to the destruction of self-worth, destroy confidence, and silence the soul.

It is a loving gesture to offer our insights, but we have the tendency to slop over the boundary of rescue,  performing the tasks ourselves.  This is called enabling.  We are allowing the victim to be excused from the challenge as we take on the lesson.    When a victim does not participate in corrective action, he or she remains a victim and no matter how much we offer, nothing changes.  

Rescuing at all cost depletes our physical, emotional and spiritual strength. While we are all called to help others, we must be certain the victim is learning with us. If the learner chooses not to move forward, then we need the strength to respect his or her decision and let go. Let go, and let God.

The Old Cycle

"...there are times when it takes much more strength

to know when to let go and then do it."

Ann Landers

Early spring flowers seem to know when to push up through the ground, as do the buds of flowering trees.  In the autumn,  colored leaves begin to fall as if on schedule.  During the human journey, the time for letting go and rebirth do not seem to be as easy.

In life we may have the awareness of brokenness, but not accompanying strength to mend it.  The act of holding pieces together may drain every ounce of energy with none remaining for repair.   When knowledge indicates it is time to let go, it is indeed difficult to relax the fingers allowing the pieces to fall landing with a hollow clatter.

Change asks us to expand our energy, thoughts, and deeds.  It suggests a slice of hope for better things to come.  During this transition, trust for new birth can be most challenging, as decay still clings to our hands.  The act of  following through is the most vital.  Without stepping forward, the old cycle simply begins again.