Tai Chi and Qigong are all about letting go. They teach us to release physical, mental, and emotional tension, promoting a sense of balance, harmony, and well-being. By practicing these ancient arts, one can achieve a deep sense of inner peace and a better quality of life. Letting go can be one of the hardest things to do, yet it is essential for personal growth and development. It's the act of releasing attachment to people, things, situations, or even emotions that no longer serve you. Letting go requires a great deal of courage, trust, and faith, but it is necessary to create space for new opportunities and experiences.
The art of letting go involves accepting what is and trusting that things will work out in the end. It is about learning to detach from the past and embrace the present moment. It's not about forgetting or denying the past, but rather acknowledging it, learning from it, and moving on. Letting go is a process, and it can be challenging, but the rewards are enormous.
In her poem "She Let Go," Safire Rose perfectly captures the essence of letting go. The poem reads:
She let go.
Without a thought or a word, she let go.
She let go of fear. She let go of the judgments. She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head. She let go of the committee of indecision within her. She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons. Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.
She didn’t ask anyone for advice. She didn’t read a book on how to let go… She didn’t search the scriptures.
She just let go.
She let go of all of the memories that held her back. She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward. She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.
She didn’t promise to let go. She didn’t journal about it. She didn’t write the projected date in her day-timer. She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper. She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.
She just let go.
She didn’t analyze whether she should let go. She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter. She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment. She didn’t call the prayer line. She didn’t utter one word. She just let go.
No one was around when it happened. There was no applause or congratulations. No one thanked her or praised her. No one noticed a thing.
Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.
There was no effort. There was no struggle. It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad. It was what it was, and it is just that. In the space of letting go, she let it all be. A small smile came over her face. A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore.
This poem reminds us that letting go is a personal journey that only we can take. It's not something we can plan or force. It's about trusting our instincts and having faith that things will work out for the best. It's about surrendering control and embracing the unknown. Letting go can be scary, but it can also be liberating.
Letting go in our practice of Tai Chi and Qigong requires practice and patience. It takes time to let go, but with each release, we create more space for growth, joy, and happiness. So next time you are practicing why not try the art of letting go, I promise you will feel the difference.