Release and Let Go - Shake it off

The Spiritual Teacher, ​Michael Beckwith says that 100% of spiritual growth is in the letting go. Releasing and letting go of ideas, beliefs, attachments that no longer serve create openness and spaciousness. Releasing and embracing is where our work lies when it comes to “manifesting” the Vision of our lives.

This week our youth lesson is about releasing limiting beliefs, practicing self forgiveness and finding and embracing the good in all of our experiences. 

"Accept what is, let go of what was and have Faith in what will be." Sonia Ricotti 

Releasing and embracing is where our work lies when it comes to “manifesting” the Vision of our lives. Have you ever tried something new that was a challenge? Maybe in the process of learning it you had the thought "I'll never get the hang of this!" It could be learning to color inside the lines or riding a bicycle, or playing a new video game. 

Or.. have you ever taken a test for school and thought you aced it, only to get your grades back and they were lower than you thought. Sometimes things happen that expand the feeling of disappointment or frustration. The more we think about it the worse we feel. It can be difficult to shake those thoughts off, yet that is EXACTLY what is needed.

"No matter what comes your way, shake it off and move forward. When you have a positive mindset, you can't be defeated." ~Joel Osteen 

There is a Spiritual Law at work all the time, in all things. Its job is to say YES. Whatever we think into mind, whatever we feel ~ it responds to us by saying Yes and gives us more of whatever it is. If we are stuck in a rut... the sooner we recognize it we have the ability to shake it off and turn things around. This is often called Releasing. Letting go of the thing that isn't working for our highest good, so we can make room for the thing(s) that will!

Making mistakes in life is how we grow. The better we are at releasing our fears, doubts and disappointments the faster we are able to return our thoughts to a positive outlook. The Law says Yes to all the good thoughts too - and they GROW!!! So let go of the small stuff and turn your thoughts and feelings to all the goodness you can imagine and watch how fast things turn around.

“Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on.”
~ Eckhart Tolle 

When you Release things that you no longer need, be it a feeling, clothing or toys you no longer play with, you create space, an openness that allows other wonderful things to flow into your life. And, if you are releasing (donating) a material object, such as clothes or toys, you are giving someone else the opportunity to receive that object, giving it purpose.

What is an idea or belief that you have that doesn’t feel good to you? Would it feel better if you let it go? What about thoughts of worry? Does it help you to be worried about something you have no control over? Would it feel better to let your worry go? Are you still angry about something that happened in the past? Would it feel better to let the anger go? What other feelings would feel good to let go of? What is something that you don’t use but someone else could benefit from? What have you outgrown or haven’t used in a long time? 

AFFIRMATIONS: 

"I release all thoughts of doubt or fear and open to the good that is my Divine birthright" Susan Robinson, RScP 

"I easily let go of the past and the future so I can enjoy the present." -Adrienne Cherry

"I allow myself to feel my feelings and shake off the ones that limit my good." Susan Robinson, RScP

"I train my mind to stay in the present moment." -Adrienne Cherry 

MEDITATIONS:

Bubble Breathing Exercise. You will need bubble solution and a bubble wand, protection from droplets, a comfortable place to sit and a few worries to blow away.

1. Sit quietly and breathe

2. Ask yourself, “What do I need to let go of?”

3. Sit in silence and let thoughts and feelings rise into your awareness.

4. Inhale deeply, pulling worries from your mind, heart and body, filling your lungs and your belly.

5. Exhale your worries gently into a bubble wand

6. Letting your worries fill the bubbles and release from your wand, blowing away into the air.

7. Watch your worries pop or fade away into nothingness

8. Take a deep breath and fill all the spaces left by your worries with love, joy and compassion.

9. Repeat the process, letting worries rise and blow away

10. Once you are completely filled with Love, Joy and Compassion, begin Inhaling these beautiful feelings, filling your bubbles and sending out Love, Joy and Compassion into the world and the Universe 

Cookie Monster Practices Self-Regulation ​Life Kit Parenting | NPR Releasing our impulses and learning to self regulate. Great video from NPR and our  our friends at Sesame Street 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0YDE8_jsHk 

Simple 13-Min Qi Gong Routine for Kids with Qi Gong Teacher Lee Holden. This video is a shaking Qigong movement that will be good for shaking it off. https://youtu.be/eAQzFqdc7Hs?t=430 

MUSIC AND BOOKS:

Let it Go - from Disney's Frozen (with lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnN6glKaWdE

Shake it off - Taylor Swift (with lyrics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIOVMHMNfJ4

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds The Dot entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark and follow where it takes us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clpw7PG7m1Q

Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg. A spill. A smear. A smudge. A tear. When you think you have made a mistake, think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjpeb6Xr1nc

What Do You Do With A Problem? by Kobi Yamada (Ages 5-8 but really applicable to all!)  What are problems for? They challenge us, shape us, push us, and help us to discover just how strong and brave and capable we really are. Even though we don't always want them, problems have a way of bringing unexpected gifts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3-iWtnFq3A

CREATIVITY:

Blow it Away!! Blow away your worries by imagining a bowl full of worries, breathe deeply and blow your worries away! Get Creative:

1. Use feathers to represent your worries.

2. Take a moment and let a worry rise in your

   consciousness.

3. Give your worry to a feather

4. Make a bowl shape with your hands

5. Add the feathers

6. Blow them onto large paper one at a time or all at once.

7. Use glue and paste the feathers where they landed.

8. Since your worries are now gone, treat each feather as

   a seed and plant within it good thoughts and good

   feelings.

Options:

• ●  Write worries on lightweight paper instead

• ●  Write new positive words before pasting

• ●  Paint and draw around collage 

Free Coloring Pages - Doodle Art Alley (hyper link not available) Many free links to coloring pages and activities.  Check out the Quotes section and click on Learning Quotes ~ they fit this lesson perfectly!

Have an awesome week of Release, letting Go and Shaking it off.

(Photo credit- Gianandrea-Villa from Unsplash.com - and the CSL YFM Content providers)