What do you want to let go of? What is preventing you from completely letting go?

Eric was inspired by a meditation he heard on the Insight Timer app, titled She Let Go.

A very rough outline of our conversation follows:

• What does it mean to let go?
  • Stop doing things that I don’t have the power to carry out (control someone else, e.g.)
• What am I letting go of?
  • Resentment
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Blame
  • Fear
  • Shame
  • Expectations
  • Catastrophizing the future
  • The past
  • The need to be right, to win, to control
  • Old behavior
  • “Need” to react to triggers.
  • Responsibility
  • Dependence on others
• What tools do I have to help me let go?
  • Slogans
    • Let go and let God.
    • How important is it?
    • Would you rather be right or be happy?
    • Easy does it. (let go of anxiety)
    • One day at a time. (let go of worry)
    • Live and let live – let go of trying to live someone else’s life for them and live my own
  • Neutral responses
    • You could be right.
    • Oh.
  • Random thoughts
    • I have no dog in this fight.
    • Not my circus, not my monkeys!
    • Let go or be dragged.
  • Meditation
    • “Turned a 12-cylinder type A Leo into a 6 cylinder hybrid. Learned to slow down.”
  • “Why?”
    • “Drill down” to find something I can actually do something about. Example: I am afraid of my loved one’s drinking. Why? I am afraid that I will lose them. Why? I am afraid of being alone.
• When I let go of things I don’t like, I make room for new things (hopefully better things) to come in.
• Recognize “alcoholic” behaviors
  • Provoke conflict
  • Create anxiety
• When I let go of other people’s stuff, I can live my own life.

Readings and Links

We read from Reaching for Personal Freedom, the Step 1 chapter; Courage to Change, March 5.

The poem “She Let Go” was written by Safire Rose, and you can listen to it on Insight Timer, read by Jack Godsman.

Al-Anon books can be purchased online at the Al-Anon Store.

Patti asked about episodes on regaining trust. There are 3 about trust: How do you trust? – Episode 281, Trust and Trustworthy – Episode 228, and Trust – Episode 91. In addition, this search turns up other shows where trust was a topic in some respect: https://therecoveryshow.com/tag/trust/ 

Jillian asked about all the songs we've suggested. Many of them are in The Recovery Show playlists on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/therecoveryshow

Upcoming topics

An upcoming topic is being a single parent and business owner in recovery. Do you have a similar experience in your life that you would like to share? Please call us at 734-707-8795 or email feedback@therecovery.show with your questions or experience, strength and hope. Or just leave a comment right here.

Music from the Show

Donna wrote to recommend this Al-Anon talk. She said “I found it captivating, helpful, and hilarious.”