New Year's Resolutions - More Opportunities to 'Don't Give Up, But Do Let Go!'

I am still exploring how to prevent my January enthusiasm for my New Year's resolutions from waning. Last blog we focused on the unhelpful habit of wanting to give up or run away when things get tough or expectations of perfection or, so called success, are not met. Times when we or others have fallen short. or things are difficult. Two things I like to remember are...

'When the going gets tough, the tough get going'. 

and
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Regarding, doing what needs to be done and then letting go of the outcome is the old adage..


You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink!
I have had a few more opportunities to practice this of late, including ..

• Yet another missing parcel. This time a shawl I crocheted and sent to New York. 
• A lost Tara charm which is very special to me 
• Someone not taking my advice and not acting the way I would like them to
• Stuff left around the house and bedroom 'floordrobes', when I have been busy decluttering and tidying up!

So, what is helpful to remember here? 

• To power up that kind, positive encouraging friend to overcome negativity and unkindness toward myself or others
• To accept the situation - 'it's like this now'
• To not give up 
• Do what needs to be done from that kind wise spot - which may include saying what is needed with strong compassion or leading that horse to water!
• And then letting go of expectation (that the horse will drink!)

So leading the horse to water is accepting the situation and doing what is needed. For me recently this has involved...

• Not getting my blog out last week. Deciding not to give up and instead planning to send it fortnightly.  
• Trying to track down the missing parcel and then letting it go. Gifting it to someone else - may they like it.
• Looking for the missing Tara charm and then letting go, trusting that I have enjoyed it for many years and now it is someone else's turn. 
• Kindly saying what is needed regarding things like advice or house tidying, respect and appropriate behaviour. And then letting go of the other person following through or even accepting what I have to say.  

Letting go of the need to force, to struggle and to be in control to make things happen, is sometimes difficult, but it is liberating!

Amazingly I often find when I am able to do my best to accept the situation, do my best to do what needs to be done and then let go of the result often things work out just as they should. Recently for me this has included...

• This blog being sent fortnightly
• The parcel arriving - late but still in time for a New York winter
• The Tara charm gifted to whoever found it 
• Help for those I have been concerned about. Writing a list of what I am grateful for in this tricky situation. 
• Some tidy up efforts 

This can take a while and sometimes it is not until I look back on a situation, that I can see that even when things have not worked out the way I thought they should have, the outcome was often just what was needed.

I remember a time when I was protesting about not getting an OT job I was desperate to get and according to me, was perfect for! Instead I got a great job in rehab, which was much better suited to me. Letting go requires acceptance and some trust.
  
I am again reminded this week, that when I am feeling worried or down about things not working out how I'd hoped or resolving as quickly as I would like, gratitude is the perfect remedy to overcome my discontent and worry! 

When I woke this morning full of worries I decided to stop the negativity and worry and instead get up and write a list of all the positives and things I am grateful for related to this situation. It worked a trick and I felt so much better, happier, optimistic and of course thankful.

We will continue to explore some more of the obstacles that may hinder establishing and maintaining resolutions or goals over the next few blogs.

Gratitude, Kind Regards and Best Wishes, 
Maree xx ​