280. Death grip

You are always held.  Always.  Whether literally by your partner at night...your religion...in the mind of your family or by your personal judgments.  Being held is something that we all strive for and yearn for.  

There is safety in it.  Security and hope...calm and peace in knowing that you are taken care of and watched over.  

Now flip it!!

Who do you hold onto?  What do you hold onto?  If you're like most of the patients I see...it's false beliefs and negativity.  It's judgments and anger.  Pain and regret.  It's past memories of a life that you once had.  "The old days of playing football...the girlfriend that was the 'best' you've ever had...your big break...that chance you didn't take...the school you should've gone to..."

These are examples of things that we hold onto that weigh us down and make it heavy to move.  Make it heavy for us to travel forward because we're holding onto the past.  

"A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!"