One of the biggest takeaways I had from reading Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch years ago was a saying: “Fear holds close; love holds dear.”
This morning I had a epiphany around that statement, while my wife and I were talking about some of the opportunities opening up around my work. After sharing a few things with my wife, she said, “that sounds great… I’m just trying not to get attached to it.”
And that was when the Idea Fairy swooped down and bonked the side of my head with her magic wand.
I realized that I had no fear in that moment about any of the opportunities panning out or not. But why?
- Because I had been visualizing them as working out just fine.
- Because I was so focused on how good they were making me feel, there was no room for fear.
- And because there was no fear, I wasn’t attached at all.
What I realized was that if I’m attached to something, it was because I have fear about it not working out. My attachment comes from my fear.
Many spiritual traditions emphasize the importance of letting go of attachments. But letting go of attachment is letting go of fear, and that’s hard to do directly. But, it happens indirectly very easily when you move into a positive state, and focus on what you love.
For example:
One of the things I’m visualizing these days is a full enrollment in the upcoming Black Belt Business Intuition course. And most of the time, I don’t feel any sort of attachment about not filling it. But, now and again, the financial fears creep up, and -BOOM!- I start fretting about filling it, and get attached really quickly to the idea of it filling.
The good news is, it’s just as easy to get unattached. By focusing on the idea of it filling again, and how much fun it will be to teach a high-energy group, the fears and doubts fall away again.
So…
What are you attached to? Is there an outcome to a project that you’re gritting your teeth about? Are you dreading something not working out?
Trying to “let it go” is much easier said than done. Instead, focus on what it’ll feel like when it does work. See and feel the successful outcome, and breathe into the feeling of success for a few minutes.
And if you want to take it another step, ask yourself, “If this project/thingy does work out well, what is that going to give me?” Then, visualize that feeling. Fill yourself with those ideas and emotions. And then, as you return your mind to the present moment, see how you feel.
I’m curious… what did that do for you? Feel free to answer in the comments.
Image by _mystico_.
