Unpack Your Bags

Vintage Tweed Luggage from CharliesNest

With summer vacations behind us it's time to unpack all the bags and get ready for what Autumn has to offer. What do you have in your baggage? I'm talking about your emotional baggage, all of those emotional attachments you carry with you, the beliefs and words that no longer serve to yield peaceful responses to circumstances and events!

Does your emotional baggage weigh you down? Does it hold you back from accepting new opportunities or taking risks? Does it keep you frozen in the status quo even if you're not happy with your life? Why do we hang on to things, relationships and emotions that no longer serve us? Why do we have this sense of obligation?

Perhaps it's the sense of familiarity and the fear of the unknown. Maybe we are attached to the idea of what it is we think we have. I know I stayed in a relationship much longer than was healthy because I was in love with the idea of being in love, not necessarily the person I was with...insane, I know!

Some say they would rather have something unremarkable than take the risk of attaining something better and end up with absolutely nothing. In truth, when you settle for the unremarkable you are doing yourself and everyone around you a disservice. To have something halfway is harder than having nothing at all. And to take a risk on the unknown can be frightening. At least with the familiar we know what to expect. We know what we have. But that's not really living life to the fullest, is it?

How do we unpack and make space for what is fulfilling? I propose that we don't simply unpack our bags and stow the contents away. We purge! We discard emotions and relationships that do not contribute to our personal peace. Some may be easy, others difficult...some may be downright painful. But in the end you must purge the discontent to leave a void for the Universe to fill with joy.

I think the 'how' is different for each person. A meditation practice is a great place to start. I have experienced great benefits from Chakra Repatterning. Reiki and other types of body work can be helpful in clearing that which no longer serves you. A support group for specific entanglements such as addiction can also be very helpful or you may fine benefit from working with a therapist.

“If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.” ~Ajahn Chah