Write to release + MAKE peace

JOURNal Exercise Three

Take the JOURNey within

Letting Go of Attachments

Recently I found myself crying in a woman's car who I had just met. Not just crying - sobbing. Releasing. I had just taken her yoga class in Yosemite National Park and it was the first class I had been to in over four months where I felt that I was being guided spiritually. She talked about how immensely and significantly she could feel the spirit of the mountains in Yosemite and it hit me hard. I realized how disconnected I had been for the past FOUR MONTHS. I realized that I was so caught up in my head with my own personal struggle that I forgot to look around me and worship Mother Earth. Even though I practiced every day - I had all these anxious feelings blocking me from connecting. I had been having such a hard time finding spirit.

This woman saw my need to be listened to and I sobbed in her car after class. She listened to me cry and talk about the realizations I had just had. I realized how angry I had truly been with myself for months on end. I realized my depression was serious. I realized I had strayed from my heart. I realized I had stopped showing myself the love I deserve and desperately need. What a break through. Why had it taken all this time to build up the pressure and then tonight - boom - I had this pivotal moment of realization? I think the reason is because my soul realized - Aprigraha - or non-attachment. I let go of the scrunched up, dark clouded thinking and was able to be guided to realize something. I realized that I had to let go of the past if I wanted to move forward. I understood what I had to do. I had to take control of my own story. I had to stop being a victim to my hurtful past, and that's what I have been doing now with intention each day. I feel so much better and I am growing stronger every day. I feel so happy about my path and where I am today.

When life brings about change, it can be really difficult not to resist the change that is coming your way. Most of us naturally resist change because it is uncomfortable, unfamiliar and challenging to embrace. It is through the practice of non-attachment, or in sanskrit - Aparigraha -, that we can tear down these walls of fear that we built within our minds and become open to the idea of letting go. When learning to practice non-attachment, first acknowledge that which you are attached to, rather than avoiding the uncomfortable feelings or emotions that surround the attachment. Maybe you are attached to a specific person, job, place, addiction or behavior. If the attachment feels unhealthy, you most likely will have already acknowledged this truth. Instead of surrendering to the attachment and further causing suffering or a time of struggle - dukkha - we can actually decide to become interested in the true nature of the attachment. It is then that you can begin to learn to let go, because the behavior of attachment is not serving your higher purpose.

Let's dive in and see where we can integrate more calm into our hearts and minds. Journaling these concepts helps to address inner worries and self-talk in a new, creative way that can benefit your daily mindset.

This week's journal exercise:

1.) Where am I holding? Calm the mind, close your eyes and settle in to your body. Scan the body for areas of tightness, discomfort, or obvious tension. Is the space between your eyebrows scrunched? Does your throat feel scratchy? Does your back ache? Is your stomach in knots? Is the space surrounding and holding your heart tight and uneasy? Notice. Be still. Write it down. Address the issue and start from the root. Why might your body and mind feel this way? Why might you be holding tension here, not only physically but emotionally. Address whatever attachment you may have, understand the nature of the attachment, send an intention of - aparigraha -to your attachment. Each day we learn to let go a little more.

Lots of love from MAKE with Madelene,

Take care everyone, free yourself from your attachments.