Lessons in Letting go

Life isn’t always all rainbows and butterflies.

Sometimes, things don’t go our way- or as we had planned. I got a lesson in this today. My partner and I were intent and excited to go to Burning Man, we just didn’t have tickets yet. We registered and were eagerly awaiting the ticket sale. We both logged in and waited anxiously in the queue. Unfortunately, in 6 minutes they were all gone. No more tickets. And the amount of people looking to buy tickets was 1000-1. Well there goes my end of summer plans…

At first, I was still hopeful. There are other ways to get tickets: through friends, online, through the Burner marketplace. That came up pretty short, again more people looking than selling. Matt was already talking about alternate plans, putting the Burn off for another year. I was sad. I felt super disappointed and hopeless. My mind was racing: “Why didn’t it work? Why have my plans fallen through? If only I wasn’t so absentminded the first time tickets went on sale…” and so on.

I decided to take a good hard look at what these feelings were and where they were coming from. I left my computer and went for a walk. I started to open up again and realize that this situation was actually out of my control. I did everything I could and gave my best. The moment where I switched my thinking from trying to analyze and fix the situation, to giving up my power and seeing clearly, everything became lighter.

My recommendations on what to do when you feel helpless or defeated by a situation:

1. Take some deep breaths.
2. Remove yourself from the situation/change locations. IE, go for a walk outside. Fresh air and nature do wonders.
3. Think about whether the situation is in your power or not. If it is: think about ways that are in your power to change the situation or your thoughts towards it. If it’s not: let go.
4. Once you’re starting to feel better, do some yoga! Stretch, bend, twist.
   • Forward folds are great for surrendering.
   • Twist are great for detoxing and releasing chemicals (maybe some cortisol that crept up with the stress).
   • Do some inversions! The best way to change your perspective mentally is to change it physically. Try a headstand, maybe a handstand against a wall or if all else, downward dog. You may be amazed at how you have totally forgotten the issue in that moment.
   • Don’t forget to breathe through all of this: inhale the good, exhale the bad.
5. Now you can get back to what it was you were doing. Employ your newfound insights or be at ease knowing it is out of your hands. Put some music on, make some tea (warm beverages are comforting, relaxing and will bring your parasympathetic nervous system back to homeostasis), and remember to keep loving yourself.

After my ticket disappointment, I did all of these things, I came back to my computer and the time was 2:22! Then I found a response to one of my inquires; a man nearby in fact has a few tickets for sale. There is always hope!

Life may not always be rainbows and butterflies, but the way we respond to challenges and how quickly we recover can get us back to living our magic!

Sending you all love, magic and ease.
​
Sarah Bella ~ Butterfly