Scott, I haven't read a piece in a good while that I felt like I could have written it - but this one was almost spooky. I resonated with EVERY bit of it. I'm also almost finished with Letting Go by David Hawkins, read and listened to almost everything by Michael Singer - and also recently been massively challenged with letting go in my business. Thank you for this - it was exactly what I needed to read today.
This is a great post Scott. I remember reading Hawkins' "Letting Go" a couple of years back, and whilst I understood the notion (and was mildly annoyed by his constant use of the passive tense), your post has given me the kick to re-read it with new eyes and new experiences. I now look back and realise what a powerful idea this is. Similar to you, I recently experienced a somewhat "last resort", but genuine, Capital L Letting Go moment, and it really did bring life all back into perspective.
Well done. This is dead right. Spot on. Iām almost 13 years sober. In AA we say ālet go and let Godā and (my personal favorite) ātake the actions and let go of the results.ā Itās been my own experience in life that when I try to get something it often evades my grasp, but when I let go and āturn it over to the Universeā guess what: Things shift in my favor. This is true of sexual/romantic relationships, my writing career, work, etc. Itās just The Way It Is. Letting go can be very painful...but also powerful. My father died on June 2nd after a two year battle with cancer. Letting him go was hard. But it was beautiful, too.
"Letting go" with the L or non doership is the supreme state of surrender. "Of myself I can do nothing but through me the father does all things". The embodiment of this realisation could be said to be the very path itself. Attempting to create "our own" reality as a so called spiritual person is very different to God realisation. "Seek first the kingdom then all else is added unto thee". Most of us are only drawn to the "added unto thee" bit. The reality of the "Seeking first the kingdom" is far too painful.
In truth until we seek to heal every obstacle of perception that we have ever been separate from God much time and effort can indeed be wasted. The process is the process and cannot really be avoided. What really gets you is when you finally realise that what you are seeking is in fact the very power you are using to seek.
Great stuff man - rare that I see people playing life at this level, and fewer talking about it. It's right there out on the edge that the co-creative dance with the universe becomes truly exhilarating. You don't really get what it means to have faith until you're in a situation that REQUIRES it.
Thank you for this great article Scott. I recently wrote about courage in our everyday life. This type of self-examination about our attachments and allowing surrender initially takes great strength and trust. Once we have practiced it about a million time (I'm hoping for less!) it will hopefully no longer take that level of courage to Let Go, although we will never lack for opportunities to get better at it.
A recent tool I have found to be helpful is to visualize the atoms in the space between my eyes. I've found it is easier for me to access the Gap and intellectually recognize, in the moment, that I am a walking collection of molecules surrounded mostly by space therefore everything can easily go right through me as it comes from Source. This seems to help me to surrender better than I would otherwise as both my brain and my heart can get on board quickly.
Great post, Scott. I can relate so much. As you said, we canāt trick ourselves into Letting go with capital L. The life will shows us that it was a mere intellectual trick we played with ourselves.
Iāve learned a lot during my Vipassana retreats. The challenge Iāve found is that itās difficult to remind ourselves the power of it even after we have managed it once. Usually we have to hit the bottom to get reminded.
Do you keep any practice alive that helps with that in your daily routine?
I/We call this process "Making Everything Equal", and it is a process that I employ regularly.
I find that when I'm pushing energy for an outcome, I'm not really in the flow. Once I make everything equal and/or "throw everything up into the air", I am then in a better position to recognize the flow that my Subjective is leading with that will bring me what I want. Even when it's not the "way" I think I want it.
"I believe in pursuing that which makes us feel alive earnestly, but increasingly being okay with what unfolds." Well and simply said. As you so well describe, the process of actually inhabiting both of these frames is no easy task. Running a business is such an incredible crucible for work on self. Most people come from thinking that being dedicated to the success of their business is a good reason to care about spirituality, to practice "letting go," reduce stress and such. In reality if you're dedicated to spirituality that is a good reason to run a business, because it puts the attachments front and center fast, and actually produces sufficient heat and stress for a potentially transformational result. This is a post I wrote several months ago that has many similarities to your letting go story if you're interested. https://couragewriter.substack.com/p/are-you-your-last-bully
letting go Intellectually Vs. Capital L Letting Go
Scott, I haven't read a piece in a good while that I felt like I could have written it - but this one was almost spooky. I resonated with EVERY bit of it. I'm also almost finished with Letting Go by David Hawkins, read and listened to almost everything by Michael Singer - and also recently been massively challenged with letting go in my business. Thank you for this - it was exactly what I needed to read today.
This is a great post Scott. I remember reading Hawkins' "Letting Go" a couple of years back, and whilst I understood the notion (and was mildly annoyed by his constant use of the passive tense), your post has given me the kick to re-read it with new eyes and new experiences. I now look back and realise what a powerful idea this is. Similar to you, I recently experienced a somewhat "last resort", but genuine, Capital L Letting Go moment, and it really did bring life all back into perspective.
Thanks and keep up the great posts.
Scott, What is is for a reason. D
Well done. This is dead right. Spot on. Iām almost 13 years sober. In AA we say ālet go and let Godā and (my personal favorite) ātake the actions and let go of the results.ā Itās been my own experience in life that when I try to get something it often evades my grasp, but when I let go and āturn it over to the Universeā guess what: Things shift in my favor. This is true of sexual/romantic relationships, my writing career, work, etc. Itās just The Way It Is. Letting go can be very painful...but also powerful. My father died on June 2nd after a two year battle with cancer. Letting him go was hard. But it was beautiful, too.
Michael Mohr
āSincere American Writingā
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
Nicely written and thank you for sharing.
"Letting go" with the L or non doership is the supreme state of surrender. "Of myself I can do nothing but through me the father does all things". The embodiment of this realisation could be said to be the very path itself. Attempting to create "our own" reality as a so called spiritual person is very different to God realisation. "Seek first the kingdom then all else is added unto thee". Most of us are only drawn to the "added unto thee" bit. The reality of the "Seeking first the kingdom" is far too painful.
In truth until we seek to heal every obstacle of perception that we have ever been separate from God much time and effort can indeed be wasted. The process is the process and cannot really be avoided. What really gets you is when you finally realise that what you are seeking is in fact the very power you are using to seek.
Peace be unto you always
Great piece Scott. I hate that we often need to be 'brought to our knees' before we can let go... (& will reply to your email soon) šš»
Great stuff man - rare that I see people playing life at this level, and fewer talking about it. It's right there out on the edge that the co-creative dance with the universe becomes truly exhilarating. You don't really get what it means to have faith until you're in a situation that REQUIRES it.
Thank you for this great article Scott. I recently wrote about courage in our everyday life. This type of self-examination about our attachments and allowing surrender initially takes great strength and trust. Once we have practiced it about a million time (I'm hoping for less!) it will hopefully no longer take that level of courage to Let Go, although we will never lack for opportunities to get better at it.
A recent tool I have found to be helpful is to visualize the atoms in the space between my eyes. I've found it is easier for me to access the Gap and intellectually recognize, in the moment, that I am a walking collection of molecules surrounded mostly by space therefore everything can easily go right through me as it comes from Source. This seems to help me to surrender better than I would otherwise as both my brain and my heart can get on board quickly.
Great post, Scott. I can relate so much. As you said, we canāt trick ourselves into Letting go with capital L. The life will shows us that it was a mere intellectual trick we played with ourselves.
Iāve learned a lot during my Vipassana retreats. The challenge Iāve found is that itās difficult to remind ourselves the power of it even after we have managed it once. Usually we have to hit the bottom to get reminded.
Do you keep any practice alive that helps with that in your daily routine?
Nicely written!
I/We call this process "Making Everything Equal", and it is a process that I employ regularly.
I find that when I'm pushing energy for an outcome, I'm not really in the flow. Once I make everything equal and/or "throw everything up into the air", I am then in a better position to recognize the flow that my Subjective is leading with that will bring me what I want. Even when it's not the "way" I think I want it.
This was a great read. It reminded me of this quote: āDo you want to know what my secret is? I donāt mind what happens.ā -J. Krishnamurti
Letting go is a flux and in take of new energy like the process of breathing new air by letting go of the old air āš¾
"I believe in pursuing that which makes us feel alive earnestly, but increasingly being okay with what unfolds." Well and simply said. As you so well describe, the process of actually inhabiting both of these frames is no easy task. Running a business is such an incredible crucible for work on self. Most people come from thinking that being dedicated to the success of their business is a good reason to care about spirituality, to practice "letting go," reduce stress and such. In reality if you're dedicated to spirituality that is a good reason to run a business, because it puts the attachments front and center fast, and actually produces sufficient heat and stress for a potentially transformational result. This is a post I wrote several months ago that has many similarities to your letting go story if you're interested. https://couragewriter.substack.com/p/are-you-your-last-bully