Master Shi Heng Yi says that learning the Art of Letting Go grounds us and helps us find our true passion and purpose.
Two years ago, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and take a chance—and go out in a hike in the mountains with new group of people. But it did not work out and ended up not going. I felt upset and disappointed. I told myself to let go and not dwell on it, but deep down, I realized I wasn’t grounded anymore. Instead of dreaming of the mountains, I found myself having unsettling dreams.
When I tried to analyze the situation, my true friend offered a perspective I hadn’t considered. She said, “Maybe nothing bad or good would have happened if it worked out. Think of it as it is—it just didn’t work out, and that’s all.” I liked that concept. Why do we analyze everything? Some things in life simply happen, and maybe they don’t carry a deeper meaning. Sometimes, the most peaceful approach is just to accept things as they are.
So, perhaps letting go isn’t always about forcing yourself to release something. Sometimes, it’s about accepting what is, then continuing forward—trusting in the natural unfolding of things.
So what does it really mean when we say “to let go”?
Letting go isn’t just a spiritual concept—it has a deep psychological and biological basis. Dr. Joe Dispenza, in his research on neuroplasticity and the mind-body connection, explains how our thoughts and emotions shape our biology. Every time we dwell on resentment, fear, or disappointment, we’re not just feeling emotions—we’re wiring those emotional states into our brain and body. The more we repeat certain thought patterns, the more they become hardwired, making it harder to break free from emotional loops.
Dr. David Hawkins, in his book Letting Go, highlights a simple yet profound truth: emotions lose their power when we stop resisting them. His “Letting Go” technique focuses on surrendering to the feeling without judgment or the urge to control it. Instead of overanalyzing or pushing emotions away, you allow them to rise, exist, and naturally dissolve. Hawkins shows that by releasing these emotional blockages, we free up massive amounts of energy trapped in lower states like anger, fear, and grief—moving toward higher states of consciousness like acceptance, love, and peace.
So, how do these two perspectives merge?
Dispenza teaches us that our brains are malleable—changeable through intention and practice—while Hawkins reminds us that the key isn’t always to “fix” or “fight” emotions but to surrender to them. Letting go, then, becomes both a mental and emotional process: we acknowledge the emotion (Hawkins) and, over time, rewire the thought patterns that fuel it (Dispenza).
Science backs this up. When we let go of stress or negative emotions, the body shifts out of survival mode. Cortisol levels drop, heart rate stabilizes, and the brain moves from high beta (stress) to more coherent states like alpha and theta, where healing and clarity occur. It’s not just about “feeling better”—it’s about shifting your entire physiological state.
So, letting go isn’t about dismissing your feelings or “thinking positive.” It’s about consciously releasing what no longer serves you—both emotionally and neurologically—and trusting in the unfolding of things.
Applying the above to real life – my own experience
I used to believe that reacting to things, people, and situations in our lives was what we were supposed to do—so feeling angry, sad, stressed, resentful, disappointed, and all those emotions seemed like a natural part of being in this world. I would deal with these emotions in my own way, mainly by suppressing or dismissing them altogether, causing them to become buried in the subconscious—ready to resurface at any trigger along the way. But then, enough was enough. There came a time when it was too much, and I needed to find a way out—to truly let go.
I learned that all these emotions hold strong energy, fed by thoughts and memories, which invite even more emotions and thoughts. So, I started training myself to stop these thought patterns—yes, it takes time and effort. Whenever I felt heavy and my mind began to spiral, I would stop the train of thoughts and try to release the heaviness through mindful breathing, envisioning the energy dissolving into the air or grounding into the earth.
By doing this, I wasn’t dismissing the feeling but observing it as it was, without adding a story to it—allowing it to dissolve. How liberating is that? 🙂
With practice, it became second nature to me, and the calmness and serenity I now experience are the rewards of mastering the Art of Letting Go.
Asma J.
Resources:
- Dr. Joe Dispenza – Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself
- Dr. David R. Hawkins – Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender