On Letting Go

It seems like one of the hardest things a human may be asked to do: Let Go. In moments of pain, restriction, hopelessness, Surrender feels like such a counterintuitive thing to do. I mean, our culture has taught us that “fighting” is the only option, right? And yet… what if letting go is actually the most effective strategy?

I have had a LOT of pain in my my body over my lifetime: (back, neck, hip, foot, ankle, jaw & mouth, shoulder, rib, sacrum, tailbone, migraines, severe period cramps… to name a few) and what I have come to learn is that “undoing” is far more effective in resolving pain issues than “doing".” Learning how to relax in the face of pain is truly a monumental achievement, and it short-cuts the painful arc quickly and amazingly.

I once had an onset of shoulder pain such that I was barely able to drive or dress myself. I had to lean over to drag my sleeve over my arm as it dangled down. It was. about a 9/10 in terms of intensity. I couldn’t move it without stabbing pain into the joint. I know from treating many people with frozen shoulder that if I hadn’t known how to relax, I might have had months of pain and movement impediment. That night, I did as full a relaxation as I could… I found a sleeping position I could live with and let go of the “natural” tendency to hold around the shoulder joint. I “let go” and reversed that need to protect and resist the pain. I surrendered and allowed the sensation to just “be.”

And I was rewarded the next morning with an incredible reduction in pain and a restoration of a lot of the movement. that was unheard of the night before.

Whenever you are afflicted with pain, try to soften the edges of it. Attempt to relax. It might not come easy at first. It may take many tries before you can accomplish it, but when you do, you’ll see that the lion’s share of the problem is with the resistance. It is understandable, but it is ultimately not helpful to resist.