How to use meditation to learn to let go?

When we think of Tibetan monks meditating for several hours a day, we don't think that they are torn by stress and filled with anxiety.

Meditation has a quite exceptional anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effect , and I must say, unmatched by any other endogenous practice.

So if you are going through a difficult time or if you are rather anxious, I suggest you read this short article which could help you.

Enjoy your reading, my Mouver!

What is meditation?

Letting go is a valuable skill in our modern society, where we are constantly alert, on edge, and surrounded by superficiality.

To calm yourself down and find inner peace in your daily life, meditation is a very interesting tool .

Letting go does not mean giving up or giving up everything.

On the contrary !

It is about adopting an attitude of emotional detachment from life's outcomes and circumstances.

This means recognizing that you can't control every situation, and that holding onto rigid expectations can cause you stress and suffering.

Letting go also means accepting things as they are , rather than constantly fighting against reality.

This does not mean that we should become apathetic or indifferent, but rather that we should open ourselves to flexibility and adaptability in the face of life's challenges.

But first, let's provide some historical context...

Meditation, a practice that dates back thousands of years, has its origins in ancient spiritual traditions.

The few surviving writings and remains seem to show that the sages of India and the Far East practiced meditation for centuries to achieve a deeper understanding of mind, consciousness, and reality.

Today, meditation has been popularized in Europe by movements such as Yoga or certain martial arts.

Now it's a resource we can all use .

It is the most accessible tool for personal and spiritual development, regardless of your beliefs or culture.

Unfortunately, for many people, meditation remains a mysterious or esoteric practice...

Therefore, let us together desacralize the term my Movement!

Meditation originally did not mean concentration, as we often find in our dictionaries.

But it means training, habituation .

Meditation is training yourself to be in the present moment.

To go back and forth between your thoughts dedicated to the past, the future or a place other than the one where you are, and the present moment.

My friend Staiv Gentis, a long-time practitioner, likes to remind us that meditation is deeply about being.

So, during your next meditation session, don't beat yourself up at the first thought distraction.

No, on the contrary, it triggers this movement towards the present moment.

This is precisely the work you should be proud of.

With time, and regular practice, you will become more and more comfortable with this mental gymnastics.

How to let go through meditation?

The ability to let go is unique to each person...

For some people it seems obvious and childishly simple.

We all have in mind at least one person who seems serene in all situations of life, a person who seems to be unaffected by anything, who continues their life as if nothing had happened.

And for others, every micro-change in daily life will be mental torture, a constant rumination of toxic thoughts.

In short, a person of extreme sensitivity who is shaken by the slightest variation in his existence.

Whether you're already a pretty laid-back person, or a control freak, I'm going to give you, in my humble opinion, some advice that will help you improve as a human being.

Letting go through breathing

First of all, I would like to share with you this very practical tool, which will relax even the most stressed, even if it's just for a few minutes!

In Dr. Andrew Huberman's wonderful meditation podcast, he talks about the relaxing breathing technique .

It's extremely simple and you can activate it right now!

Just breathe in completely naturally, without forcing , then breathe out for a long time , or at least longer than you are used to.

Or more intensely, pushing the air out of your lungs.

After several repetitions, you will begin to feel your muscles relax, your body relax, you will gradually let go...

Welcome your thoughts

Meditation, in addition to presenting numerous benefits concerning your capacity to concentrate or the improvement of your sleep ,

Will allow you to adopt a posture of non-judgment in your everyday life.

From others, but also and above all from yourself!

You don't know what I'm talking about?

A little effort…

I can't do this, I'm useless!

I'm ugly!

I'm not good enough!

But why am I thinking of something so weird…

All those little thoughts that will make you put yourself down, or limit yourself.

You will be able to become truly aware of them and choose, in a way, not to be affected by them .

Be a healthy observer of your own internal reflections.

Observe without judging .

And let those thoughts go naturally…

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness meditation is about being connected to the present moment , without resisting thoughts or emotions.

That is to say, accepting what is happening inside you, but also around you.

This is the type of meditation that is often practiced first by beginners because it requires no prerequisites, but also no preparation.

All you have to do is find a quiet place, sit down, and learn to stay in the present moment.

If you are anxious by nature, interoceptive meditation might be less suitable for you, in my humble opinion, which is taken from one of Dr. Andrew Huberman's teachings .

Because this type of meditation will place you in a state of listening to the body, for an anxious person they will be able to be even more aware that they are anxious, in a way...

Intense breathing, increased heart rate.

If this is the case for you, exteroceptive meditation will be in order.

In this category there is meditation with a candle, or meditation with music.

I also suggest the 432 Hz waves which are very beautiful to listen to, to feel...

But again, these are only general tips; it will be up to you to form your own opinion through your own experiences!

Use a mantra

A mantra is a repeated word or phrase used to calm the mind.

This practice is called transcendental meditation and often uses notes such as Om or So Hum .

I then advise you to do a quick search on the internet to understand their meanings.

But you can also choose a mantra in French that evokes letting go.

Simply, let go or let go .

Repeat it quietly to yourself during meditation.

This should help you relax .

Use guided meditation

I recommend it very often, and for good reason!

In this theme it seems particularly interesting to me...

By using guided meditation, with the aim of letting go, you will have one sense, hearing, which will be completely dedicated to listening to the instructor.

This will allow you to let go of your parasitic thoughts since you will already be distracted by the voice you are listening to, which will ask you to do this breathing, or this visualization...

Your thoughts will no longer have room to expand and take complete possession of you, generating stress and annoyance.

To do this, you can head to the YouTube platform where content creators offer you 100% free guided meditations.

But also towards applications such as Mind or Petit bambou.

Meditate regularly

Consistency, in any field, is a true superpower.

Because this attitude will allow you to progress without you even realizing it, since it will be one small stone after another that you will add to your building day after day.

It's a kind of Kaizen effect.

The more you train, the more your brain will create connections between the neurons involved.

In this way, you will acquire the awareness that will make you realize that you are caught up in a thought.

Because many people get caught up in mental patterns without even being aware of it.

Then you will be able to begin returning to the present moment.

This is how you will slowly create a space for yourself where you will be able to let go.

Victor E. Frankl , a great neurologist, said:

There is a space between stimulus and response.

In this space remains our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

Since in this space dedicated to the present moment the past and the future no longer matter, your problems no longer matter.

But I warn you, you will have to show some patience...

Because letting go is a skill that takes time to develop.

Don't be too hard on yourself if you have trouble letting go of certain thoughts or emotions.

I repeat myself, but meditation is training !

So never doubt your efforts.

And remember that each meditation session brings you a little closer to serenity.

How can meditation improve my daily life?

Besides meditation, try to practice letting go in your daily life.

Like any good Stoic, accept the things you cannot change and focus on what you can actually control .

In line with this, I recommend you read the masterpiece The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle .

Inside you will discover valuable advice that I am sure will help you in your everyday life.

To give some of the main principles that he shares in the book…

Meditation is not limited to a sitting practice.

You can also apply it in action .

For example, when you eat, be fully present in each bite, enjoying the flavors and textures without distraction.

As you walk, feel each step, the pressure gravity causes under your feet, the air on your face.

The same goes for when you work, instead of complaining about every minute that passes, concentrate fully on your activity, on every key you press on your keyboard, on every part you use on a construction site...

Etc, etc.

All these little actions are mini meditation sessions !

Thank you for your attention, my Mouver!

And if you want to bounce back or simply share your experience concerning your meditation practice, I look forward to hearing from you in the comments section 😉

Nomad Slim
Founder of MOUVERS