[Angela]

Some people say, "How do you do that?! I try, but I just can't let go!"

We hold onto our old pain with white knuckles, we hold on so tightly for so long that we confuse our old pain with who we are. We figure, if we let go our old pain, we're letting go our identity. So letting go is as scary as dying. It's so ingrained in our very survival to hang on to that old pain, that it's hard to even imagine living without it. "You don't understand, I just can't do it!" Yikes!

So the first step is to ask yourself: "Am I willing to let go?" Maybe you're not willing, and that's okay. Ask again tomorrow. The asking gets you used to the idea, a little bit at a time. Talk to people who have let go of what you're holding onto, and allow them to assuage your anxiety and to inspire you. When, you're ready, you're ready, and not a moment before.

One way I've found useful to let go is to visualize the old belief as a dense physical object, like a medicine ball, that lives where the pain in my body lives -- usually either my chest or my belly, sometimes my head. I bring my arms to that part of my body and lift the medicine ball up and out of my body, then put it on the ground (don't worry; old pain is biodegradable.) and walk away. Look over your shoulder and wave buh-bye to it. I use the medicine ball technique all the time, and recommend it. It's amazing how light my body feels after I let go of one.

Another thing about letting go is: it's easier if you have an inspiring new possibility to walk into. It's like jumping off a building is easier if you have Spiderman to catch you. So as you surrender your old pain, re-commit to your inspiration. Tell people about your inspiring new possibility, and allow them to support you in being it. It's a lot more fun than always giving something up!