“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” ~Charles Swindoll
Are you good at letting the little things go?
You know those times when someone pushes your buttons or does something that really irritates you … can you just easily move on?
I have to admit that this was one of my “growth areas” (and, when I say growth areas, I mean that I was EXTREMELY in need of growing).
It’s not that I was always having “issues” with people, but every so often someone would do something that would push my buttons and I would be beyond annoyed and frustrated.
For the rest of the day, I would re-run in my mind what happened, reflect on how upset I was, retell the story to other people and then think through the ways that I could and should have responded to really make my point.
Talk about winding yourself up.
I literally did every single thing you shouldn’t do if you want to let things go and most importantly maintain the best frame of mind that will set you up to have a successful and productive day.
But, then I finally figured out (thank goodness) there really is a better way.
And, trust me, I don’t say that lightly. I am not one of those people that is totally “zen” and never bothered at all by anything other people do.
I have “buttons” and although I don’t really let them get pushed anymore, I soooo understand how challenging it really can be to let things go. I also know there are some things that are not “little” that need to be addressed.
Those aren’t the things I am referring to here. I am only talking about the “little” things, the nuisances …
your husband forgetting to pick up his clothes for the 532,395th time (but whose counting?)
the guy who cuts you off
the co-worker that says something rude to you
the waitress that totally and unapologetically screws up your order
the person who yells at you through e-mail using CAPITAL LETTERS and way too many exclamation marks !!!!!!
Sometimes it really is the little things that can get under our skin and we would be so much better off to just let them go and move on .
Why?
Because there’s nothing more important than your peace of mind.
It impacts everything about you, the type of day you will have and even how things will unfold for you in the future.
Why on earth should you mess up YOUR mindset because of something “little” someone else has done?
Commit with me Today that from here on out, we are going to let all the little things go (or at least try).
Here’s a list of the top 10 reasons To Just “Let it go” (the next time you are close to getting worked up over something little, check out this list.)
the top 10 reasons to just “let it go”
#10 You benefit so much every time you choose to “let it go” (even if you can’t see exactly what it is you gain at the time).
#9 Negative energy weighs you down and holds you back from doing everything you really are capable of.
#8 You are highly likely to literally ruin the rest of your day if you allow yourself to get too worked up.
#7 You are being given an opportunity to strengthen your tolerance and patience that you really don’t want to miss.
#6 Regardless of how it may seem, you will be the real “winner” after you choose to let it go.
#5 Even if you don’t believe it, not “letting it go” is working against you personally in one way or another
#4 It’s just never worth it. You aren’t gaining anything by remaining angry.
#3 You will free your mind to focus on what you really want and what is most important to you.
#2 It is much better for you in the long run (and even in the short term) to “lose” a battle than it is to lose your peace of mind.
And, the #1 Reason To Just “Let It Go”
#1 You open yourself up to the better things and positive energy that are just waiting to come your way.
Another sunny day in Southern California!
…yes I like you practice zen, but have not technically perfected it to the strength of the non- button pushing tranquility option setting.
As I sit here typing this comment, in view from my back window is a hummingbird actively feeding at the nectar feeder…red iridescent breast glistening in the sunlight. A dove is waiting for me to reload the wild bird feeder.
It can be a tough challenge to go from this environment and into a very loud, competitive, physical, callus,and at times superficial workplace… or other external environment and keep your zen coolness.
But the “letting go” of all the gnawing little parasites that want to feed off one’s peace of mind and weaken the view of the bigger picture is really our best internal resource. The parasites will either just die or move on to a weaker host.
Presently I can really appreciate:
#2 It is much better for you in the long run (and even in the short term) to “lose” a battle than it is to lose your peace of mind.
I am very thankful for you Sibyl…have a wonderful day!
Thanks Rand for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I was laughing so hard when I saw your description of the parasited feeding off your mind:) I think that is so true:)
Hi Sibyl,
Looking at the big picture helps to let the little things go that can be so annoying. We cannot control other people or what happens around us, but we can control our reactions. I like all your reasons, but #6 jumped out at me – Regardless of how it may seem, you will be the real “winner” after you choose to let it go. Enjoyed your post – thanks.
So glad you enjoyed the post Cathy. Thanks for stopping by and letting me know. I think you are so right about looking at the bigger picture. It really is so important.
Hi Sibyl,
Great post my friend as always. I love those top 10 reasons you gave to “let go” I know sometimes it could be a challenge, but the more we work on our attitude and our mind, the better we get at it.
Thanks for sharing
Hey Dia: Always great to hear from you and you know I couldn’t agree more with what you said … it’s all about living today better than yesterday and making progress one step at a time:)
what a great post Sibyl
sometimes the best solution to a big problem is to just let go
thank you
So true Farok:) Always great to see you here. Thanks for dropping by.
Today is a very sad day for me. We are having a funeral for my wonderful mother-in-law. She had a 8 grown-up grandchildren (3 are my step-children) that hardly ever made the effort to visit her. Of course, I know my emotions are running high but I’ve always felt that if you love someone, you make the effort to let them know while they are alive. Is the conviction I feel about that something I should let go? Am I expecting too much? I want your honest opinion (just be gentle when you give it to me), okay?
By the way, I always appreciate your posts. I look forward to them and they make a huge difference in my life:)
Thank you so much for the kind words. I am so glad that you like the posts. So, I know exactly what you are saying and it can be frustrating to see other people not do things that you know and genuinely feel they should. I think what has always helped me and directed my attention to the right place is to focus on myself. How can and should I be handling the situation? What can I do? I think sometimes redirecting the lens to you allows you to see what you really can influence and control. Oftentimes that is not the decisions that other people make and if you focus on trying to do that, it only gets more and more upsetting. So, specifically with the situation you described, I would “let go” the decisions they made to not visit as much as they should have and focus on everything I did and will continue to do to show other people love. Does that help?
Sibyl,
We are only hurting ourselves and losing personal power when we let the little things get to us. Lifes too short to dwell on pety issues. This where staying in the moment helps. We learn to forgive and forget and embrace the joy of the moment.
So true Joe … it’s all about letting the Petty things go. Thanks for always dropping by and sharing your thoughts:)
The one that stuck out the most to me was #5- “Even if you don’t believe it, not “letting it go” is working against you personally in one way or another.” This reminds of something I heard some time ago about anger–that being angry is like drinking poison and hoping the other person gets sick. Holding negative emotions is toxic to both our minds and our bodies.
So true Lisa. That really is such a true statement. Always great to see you around. Thanks for stopping by again.
“I also know there are some things that are not “little” that need to be addressed.”
Dear Sibyl,
On this Martin Luther King Day, let us not forget that ‘formost’ the civil rights movement was fueled by courageous multitudes centered from a position of peaceful demonstration. Living during this period with first hand viewing of ‘Barber Shop Bigotry’ I can truly say that all 10 reasons ‘To Let Go’ help maintain focus for the eventual ‘Bigger Cause’.
Yes, the masses that can stay centered and calm, and the peaceful grace of *One*…
Thank you Sibyl
Thank You Rand for the reminder.
Hi Sibyl,
All the scenarios you listed are not easy to let go of. I think anyone would understand if it got under your skin. I doubt I would be able to brush it off with a shrug myself.
Still, as you rightly point out, we need to be able to let go of the little things. It is vital to our well-being. Thus, I love the 10 reasons you have listed to just let it go. These are the ones that stand out most for me.
#7 You are being given an opportunity to strengthen your tolerance and patience that you really don’t want to miss.
Patience and tolerance isn’t strengthened during good times. It is strengthened when people bring us to the very edge and push us off the cliff. If we can still maintain our patience and tolerance then, we are getting somewhere.
#3 You will free your mind to focus on what you really want and what is most important to you.
Some things are simply not worth it. Even if you hold on, what do you achieve? If there is nothing important that you achieve by holding on, it is better to let it go. Some times thinking of the bigger picture in this way helps.
Thank you for showing us how to live today better than yesterday!
Irving the Vizier
Hey Irving: Always great to hear from you. You are so right that patience and tolerance are strengthened when we may least expect it. So true.
Hi Sibyl,
Great post with such profound ideas and insights. This post certainly adds to one’s Personal development like i mentioned on my blog. I agree with you that you have to let insignificant things go. I like your blog content etc.
Thanks for sharing!
Excellent post Sibyl..All these small things posted above we really don’t realize that they affect us to such an extent. I’ve only seen other people who think about such small things and keep it in their mind for such a lonog time that you can actually feelthe difference in their behaviour. I used to wonder why .. However, today such a thing happened at my workplace and I was continuously thinking about it while returning home and it also ruined my mood.
I got this article at the right time and now I understand that it is always the best option to let go..Thanks Sibyl.