Let Go, Let God

I'm reading a very helpful article about Letting Go on Aish, which is a website on Jewish spirituality. Life is full of painful circumstances. When painful things happen to us, we tend to blame people and circumstances beyond our control. This of course, makes no sense and is indeed counterproductive.

Hanging on to anger and resentment assumes that we have control over the behavior of another person.

On the contrary, we can't control others' actions or their feelings. The more we try, the more likely they are rebel or feel inadequate and the cycle of miscommunication continues. Reaching deep down and finding the positive, as difficult as that is to do, is much more likely to get results.

Secondly, the article states,

no challenge in life is arbitrary or capricious. My life and the circumstances by which I am confronted are uniquely relevant to me and provide an invitation for me to grow on a personal level

or as it says in the New Testament, "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord." (Romans 8:28). The article suggests turning the constant negative feedback we give ourselves into positive self-talk as a way to "let go and forgive." Again, being positive is much more likely to get results.

The next point is so important, that I'll quote it verbatim.

Everyday is precious and life passes all too quickly. We must not allow yesterday to contaminate today. How sad it would be for us to miss today's beautiful sunshine, because we refuse to let go of yesterday's overcast skies. In Hebrew there is a saying, "Do not prolong the suffering beyond the time of pain."

Very wise, I think.