Losing Control...Intentionally

Last week (see below) I explained that to manifest miracles in your life and have things go extraordinarily well... if not fantastic, you must learn to let go.

Let go of what?

Control. Or, more acurately, let go of trying to control.

The truth is that the only thing we actually have control over is ourselves. Let me rephrase that. the only thing we POTENTIALLY have control over is ourselves, and in most cases when we try to control something by trying to change a situation or person we do or don't like, we only end up restricting to flow of energy in that situation and cutting off it's power.

Know what I mean?

Yeah, sorry, I kind of lost me in that too. OK. Here it is in a nutshell:

Let life flow beautifully like clear, glistening water through your gently open fingers.

Your body, your life, your universe... all change and evolve, constantly creating and recreating the world you live in (the weather and your emotions being examples) and if you try to stop the change or try to keep things the same... well, let me put it this way. In a tug of war between you and the forces of the cosmos, who do you think is going to win?

So that's why you always hear things like:

"Don't sweat the small stuff"
"Go with the flow"
"Ride the wave"
"Relax"
"It'll all work out in the end"
"Have faith"
"Live in the moment"
"Open up"
"This is what you need to grow into the person you wish to become"
"Learn from everyone and every situation"
"Release"
"Clear & Clean it out"
"Let it go"

And many more...

So, on to practical matters.
HOW does one go about the process of letting things go and feeling good?

First, we must understand that as long as there are a wide variety of people alive and creative on this planet, there will be a wide variety of methods and strategies of chopping off and dropping excess baggage from our experience. For every one of us who has noticed the chains of emotional bondage there have been a bazillion ways to get rid of them and soar in our new found freedom. I kid you not, there is a bazillion if not more... although most are variations on the same theme.

So let's start with the basics.

1. Laughter. This is probably the greatest releasing technique ever invented. I haven't found out who invented laughter (probably an ancient babylonian god who sat on an anthill... or something) but I would definitely give them a dollar and a high five if I ever met them. Seriously though, when you laugh you let go of any tension that was there. The more you laugh, the more you release and clear the space of resistance. In societies that practice forms of Voodoo, it is a known secret that someone truly laughing at a curse will not be harmed by it. So if someone insults you, just laugh it off! It can heal you and those around you of many things, and you'll feel sooooo gooood after. And people will be drawn by your positive energy. It can even be a fake laugh at first. Try it. Fake laugh. It gets funnier every minute! Laugh 'till you cry. Laugh 'till your abs and face cramp up. Laugh until you're so tired that you fall asleep (I think I did that a few times). You can even look into the mirror every morning and start the day laughing! Laugh every day and laugh often and you will have a great laugh - I mean life!

2. Presence. I think Eckhart Tolle invented this one. Or someone who lived "before cities existed and men hunted the dinosaurs". I'll get to the bottom of this mystery someday... Anyway, presence is a one-word title for being in the moment. It means having your attention on everything in your immediate environment and not lingering on anything in particular, including your own thoughts about what's happening. You see, laughing is a great old time, especially if other people are laughing with you, but to really reap the rewards of miracle-making one must learn to be present for as much of a day as possible. I mean, you can't laugh for 24 hours a day can you? You'd never be able to say anything! And then your loved ones would say "why can't you be serious for 2 seconds"! So what can you do to release the rest of the time when you're not laughing"? Learn to be present more and more.

There are a bazillion ways to do this because all it means is having your attention fully on the task at hand and not mentally grabbing on to things and thoughts that pass your way.

So, any type of sport or physical activity can bring this about as when a runner talks about getting a "runner's high" or an athlete speaks of being "in the ZONE". When that happens, everything falls away and nothing else exists for you than what is happening right here, right now. At this point you don't even remember that there is a past or a future, only NOW.

Sex can be deepened to this level. So can killing someone with a sword or pouring a cup of tea, as the Samurai and Zen monks of ancient Japan knew very well.

So, to answer your unasked question:

Anything can be developed, zen-like, into a meditavive practice of presence. When I lived on the farm, I would get deep in the zone by listening to my breathing as I swept a broom. I could also do it by going deep into music I was listening to, chopping wood, giving a speech, wrestling an opponent, working at my job or sitting in meditation... doing the dishes too, even if I didn't want to do them. If I allowed myself to let go into presence, I felt awesome after doing the dishes. Really. It doesn't matter what it is!

Whatever you do, do it with your full attention. Pet your cat or dog and pay attention to how they respond to your touch. Wash your car and notice every detail without judging. Get right into that book you're reading, that movie you're watching or that project you're working on. Just BE where you are, doing what you're doing, and don't worry about anything. When you're outside, notice the wind. Notice the clouds and the people around you without needing to make a comment or judge the situation in any way. You won't believe how great you feel as you find yourself being present more and more...

As the great teachers of meditation have always taught, just breathe and follow the breath. All else will follow.

CHB

P.S. As this article is getting long (I love this topic!) I'll continue next week.

P.P.S. That's a picture of me a few years ago visiting Bath, England and their ancient roman hot springs. So beautiful... as you can see, enjoying the moment.

Copyright © Charles Begin

If you would like to reprint these articles or pictures in part or in whole, please include my name (Charles Begin) and website (www.CharlesBegin.com) so that others know where they came from and the copyright is respected. Other than that, feel free to share... and thank you for reading!