Free to Hold On or Let Go 1

“The space that is created as we let things go is magical and can even be exhilarating – like watching a balloon fly high in the sky.”

Val Heaton

We have probably all witnessed at some time the picture of a very small child sitting in a pushchair who has been given a bright balloon to hold and then let it go by mistake. Probably more likely, you have heard the screams and turned to see a devastated child and a balloon flying up and away. To ease the pain it takes a more interesting distraction such as an ice cream or of course, another balloon!

Now imagine the same child a few years older, maybe five or 6 who is also holding a balloon but has decided to let it go for the sheer joy of watching it fly away out of sight and then carries on with the next interesting occupation, or they may ask for another balloon to repeat the exhilarating experience. This child has both the dexterity to hold on to the balloon or let it go if they want to. This is such an ideal way to live; free to hold on or let go at will.

By now you may well be thinking, ‘Val, this is all very childish’ and how right you would be! However, many years ago now, I discovered that if I wanted to know the real truth of a situation I found myself in, the innocence and honesty of the small child within would often help reveal it.

The small child in the first story we see was very sad at the loss of their balloon; displaying a child’s honesty to reveal their feelings with no concern for what others think. The slightly older child had learned that they could hold on or let go at will – that there could be delight found in letting go of the balloon as well as holding onto it.

As we get older, our lives are less simple; we have gathered unwanted thoughts, fears, habits, memories, people and places and inevitably tangles come to surface easily and often need careful unravelling.  We do strive to keep our lives less cluttered but it is not easy and letting go of those thoughts, fears, and habits of a lifetime become more difficult.

You see letting go becomes a skill we need to learn or re-learn. Every new situation has to be faced in a new way and remembering and understanding that you still have a totally honest small child living inside is such a good place to begin because a child is honest and open to the new. We find it incredibly hard to be honest with ourselves; we make excuses all the time, and I know I am not the only one! We also have the tendency to think life should be easy, when in fact it is incredibly hard to live true to our very own self.

So, letting go may take time and even require the help of a professional to know the why and to see clearly what is being let go or we may let it back again later! The space that is created as we let things go is magical and can even be exhilarating – like watching a balloon fly high in the sky – and at that moment you are free to create whatever you wish, fill it with NEW LIFE, LOVE AND LAUGHTER.

Love Val