Heaven is acceptance of what is.
~ Lubovitch Rebbe
Stop Interfering With Your Life “
Allowing” is an incredible activity that naturally runs counter to “fear.” It is a wonderful medicine for stress, upset and anxiety of all kind. As we allow what is real and nourishing to become revealed, we stop interfering with our life, and take our hands off people, events, and ourselves. Finally, we can breathe a sigh of relief as we simply allow what is happening to happen. We stop fighting what is going on and feeding it energy in that way.
This Does Not Mean Being Passive: Just The Opposite
This does not mean we are passive, or giving our support to negative situations. Just the opposite, by not fighting and resisting them, we are making room for calm, clarity and the ability to naturally respond differently. We do not offer a knee jerk reaction, but respond in a beneficial manner for all.
Usually our energy is spent struggling, demanding, and driving everyone crazy trying to figure out answers to the problems we face. As soon as a challenge appears, we start to think, plan, strategize, agonize and place ourselves in a prison without bars. Most of the problems that tie us up aren’t even real problems, just fantasies our fear cooks up.
When we are allowing, we are not demanding an outcome, or interfering with the flow of events. If a choice or decision is needed, we don’t tie ourselves into a knot to make it, but allow it to be revealed. Living in this manner, enormous relief and energy become available.
Exercise: The Simple Practice of Allowing
We may think it is difficult to allow life to be what it is. But allowing is natural and easy. Here are some simple steps. To start this practice, allow something easy.
- Allow the light to come up in the morning or the sun set at night.
- Now, allow something else that might be more difficult. Allow your partner to speak all they want to and for you to listen. and not say a word.
- Allow a moment of fear to arise, and then to depart on its own. (It will if you don’t cling to it).
- Allow yourself to say hello and smile at a neighbor, instead of hiding on your phone.
Say No to Anxiety and Control
By allowing life to be what it is we are saying no to anxiety and control. We trust that there is a direction, a life force, a source of guidance that knows what is right in each moment. We stop struggling, straining, demanding, and plotting. Instead we ease up and allow this source of wisdom into our lives. It has our answers, knows what is real, what is good and true for us. It is with us at every moment. We have just not yet allowed it to be revealed. Now is the time to practice allowing, a truly strong medicine for dissolving fear.
The Dangers of Grasping and Clutching
“There was once a lonely young woman who longed desperately for love. One day, while walking in the woods she found two starving songbirds. She took them and put them in a small, gilded cage and nurtured them. The birds grew strong and greeted her every morning with marvelous songs. She felt love for the birds and wanted their singing to last forever.
One day, the girl left the door to the cage open and the larger bird flew out. She watched anxiously as he circled high above her, frightened that he would fly away and she’d never see him again. When he flew close, she grasped at him wildly, caught him in her fist and clutched him tightly. Suddenly, she felt the bird go limp. She opened her hand and stared in horror at the dead bird.
Then she noticed the other bird hovering near the door of the cage and could feel his great need for freedom. She decided to allow it. She lifted him from the cage and tossed him softly into the air, and watched as he circled, once, twice, three times.
As the girl continued to watch and delight in the bird’s enjoyment of his new freedom the bird flew closer, landed softly on her shoulder and sang the sweetest melody she had ever heard.”
Letting Go And Letting Life Take Its Course Is An Act of Love
The more you let go and trust life, the more life brings beautiful gifts to you. And, your own intuitive knowing develops and guides you to what is truly meaningful and dependable, thus releasing a great deal of imbalance and fear.
Allowing Our Basic Wisdom To Run The Show
Within each of us there is an original, primal self who can handle anything. This wiser, primal self can be called our own intuitive knowing, eternal wisdom, or the Master within. Dialogue with it. Ask it what it would like to be called, and allow it to run the show. This part of you is grounded in the truth of your being and knows what it is doing and where you need to go, The practice of dialoguing with your inner selves is very powerful. Most of us give so much attention to what others tell us and then wonder why we feel so empty, confused or alone. When we give time, attention and listen to the wisdom within, suddenly the part of us that longs for attention feels as though someone is finally there with them.
This article is based upon the book Fearless, The Seven Principles of Peace of Mind, by Brenda Shoshanna.
Brenda Shoshanna, Ph.D. is an award winning author, speaker, psychologist and long term Zen practitioner. Her work integrates the teachings of East and West and focuses upon how to make the teachings real in our everyday lives. She offers talks, workshops and a weekly podcast, Zen Wisdom for Your Everyday Life. Brenda has a You Tube channel, Dr. Brenda Shoshanna, where she offers short talks. Contact her at topspeaker@yahoo.com.
