Letting Go: A Simple and Transformative Technique for Inner Freedom
Photo by Mario Gogh on Unsplash
At Wondersource, we’re passionate about equipping teams and individuals with tools for mental fitness, emotional well-being, and resilience. One of the most transformative tools we've encountered comes from the book Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender by Dr. David R. Hawkins. This technique, known as the letting go technique, offers a simple yet profound way to release inner blocks, reduce stress, and move toward emotional freedom.
What Is the Letting Go Technique?
The letting go technique is rooted in the idea that the emotions we suppress or resist create tension and blockages in our lives. By letting go of these emotions instead of avoiding or fighting them, we can experience greater clarity, peace, and personal power.
According to Hawkins, letting go is about allowing emotions to surface fully without judgment, resistance, or analysis. Once we embrace and surrender to the feeling, it naturally dissipates.
How to Use the Letting Go Technique
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how you can practice letting go:
Identify the Feeling
Pause and notice the emotion you're experiencing. Is it anger, frustration, sadness, or fear?
Be specific but avoid attaching stories or labels (e.g., "I’m angry because..."). Focus on the raw emotion.
Allow the Feeling to Be Present
Instead of resisting or suppressing the emotion, allow it to exist fully in your body.
Sit with it. Feel the physical sensations associated with the emotion.
Drop the Need to Fix or Analyze
Avoid overthinking, problem-solving, or judging yourself for feeling this way.
Accept the emotion as it is, knowing that it’s just energy moving through you.
Stay Present with the Feeling
Let the emotion run its course without trying to force it away. Often, when we allow emotions to be fully felt, they naturally dissipate.
Trust the process, even if it feels uncomfortable initially.
Notice the Release
As you surrender to the emotion, you may notice a lightness or sense of calm taking its place.
If the feeling remains strong, repeat the process until you sense it fading.
Why It Works
Hawkins explains that suppressed emotions act like pressure cookers: the more we resist them, the more they control us. By letting go, we interrupt this cycle, releasing pent-up energy and gaining access to higher emotional states such as courage, peace, and joy.
Additionally, the technique calms the nervous system, improves mental clarity, and helps us respond to challenges from a place of equilibrium rather than reactivity.
Applying Letting Go at Work
The letting go technique isn’t just for personal growth—it’s an incredible tool for the workplace:
Reduce Stress: Let go of work-related anxieties and pressures to regain focus.
Navigate Conflict: Release emotional triggers before engaging in difficult conversations.
Foster Resilience: Bounce back more quickly from setbacks by surrendering unproductive feelings like frustration or self-doubt.
A Real-World Example
Imagine you’re leading a project, and a teammate’s unexpectedly being off work sick for days has caused significant delays. You feel anger and frustration at the lack of other resources bubbling up. Instead of lashing out or suppressing these feelings, pause.
Identify the anger: "I feel frustrated because I think this reflects poorly on my leadership and I am annoyed that there aren’t more resources."
Allow it: Feel the tension in your body without trying to justify or fix it.
Stay present: Let the emotions flow without attaching stories to them.
Within minutes, you may notice the anger subsiding. From this calmer state, you can address the issue with clarity and professionalism rather than reacting impulsively.
Conclusion
The letting go technique is a powerful practice that offers individuals and teams a way to navigate emotions more effectively. By embracing this approach, we can free ourselves from unnecessary stress, foster better relationships, and create a healthier, more harmonious work environment.
At Wondersource, we believe that tools like this are essential for building resilient and empowered workplaces. Let us know how this technique works for you—and if you'd like to explore how we can bring similar mental fitness practices to your team, get in touch!
If you're ready to amplify your own growth or your team's potential and health and foster a culture of holistic growth, reach out to us at hello@wondersource.co or book in a call to learn more. We offer live online expert led team classes, workshops and more to empower employees! Let's build healthy, resilient, abundant and empowered teams together.
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