A Glass of Water

My Dad sent me this story and I thought it worth sharing.

A presenter used a glass of water to demonstrate how your holding onto stress can have a deleterious effect on you.

She held a glass of water in her hand and invited her audience to guess how heavy the glass and its contents were. She remarked that the exact weight was immaterial. What was of consequence was how long she held the glass for. If she held it for a few minutes before putting it down, she would most likely not even notice the weight of the glass. If she held it in her hand for an hour she would probably experience a cramp in her arm. If she were to hold onto the glass for an entire day she may need medical assistance.

You see the weight of the glass is not the issue. The issue is how long you hold onto it. The longer you hold onto anything, the heavier it gets.

Unforgiveness is exactly like that. The clinging to a past memory with all its associated negative feelings is the cause of such self-made suffering. This continued grasping at the past and holding it in the present is the ruin of every potential happy moment. Holding onto something you had no control over destroys the quality of your life. It exhausts you, weakens your immune system and makes you depressed.

You do not have to be a victim to your mind. Your mind does not rule you. Your past does not define you. It happened the way it happened, but it is your choice how you respond or react to it.

Your obsession with needing to examine, explain and justify your past are the most destructive weapons in corroding your joy. Your thoughts are just thoughts. They don’t cling to you. It is you who clings to them as if in some way they give you credibility.

Just imagine for a moment that you are holding that glass of water in your hand right now. If you open your hand the glass will fall to the floor won’t it? The glass is not attached to you. It is you who has attached yourself to it. Well, think of that glass as representative of your darkest thoughts, resentment, anger or whatever comes to mind. You may like to do this exercise with a less dangerous object like a pen or a stone.

Now ask yourself: “Could I let go of this negative thought?” It is a possibility, right? It is as easy as opening your hand and allowing the object to fall to the floor.

Secondly ask yourself:  “Would I be prepared to let go of this negative thought?” This is your power card, the power of choice.

And thirdly ask yourself:“When?” If not now, then when?How much longer do you wish to suffer? When would you like to be free?

Give yourself the gift of love today and let go of all your burdens, imagined and otherwise. 

If you have the power to change your circumstances, do. If you can’t change them use the power you do have to accept them and let go of the need to judge everything as good or bad, right or wrong. Let go of needing to justify and defend.

Today, find your peace in simply letting go because You CAN.

All my love

Nicolette