
In East Asia it is their custom to eat the meat of the monkey for its rare and delicious tenderness and the method by which they catch the monkeys is by placing bananas in specially-designed traps. When the monkey reaches out for a banana its hand gets caught in the trap. If the monkey only knew that to break free all it needs to do is to let go of the banana. If the monkey could be conditioned to release the banana the monkey would regain its freedom.
So, why tell this story? Because, people become imprisoned by limiting perceptions that keep them locked in the cage holding the banana. If we could discover what we’re clinging to we’d be able to condition ourselves to change the action that is holding us prisoner and keeping us from moving forward.
What are you clinging on?
Actions? Achievements? Results? How you should feel?
We could drop the banana (let go of notions) by shedding the should haves, could haves and would haves that no longer serve us.
Our freedom relies on letting go and letting the grace of the universe surprise us with its gifts, with a better way for us, the right way for us.
Sometimes what ends up being right is not what we expected; it’s not what we thought we should have, could have or would have done and yet, when we open ourselves to other possibilities we are able to connect the dots back and say “oh yes that was for the best.” The realization may come a day, a week or even years after but none of that matters. All that matters is your ability to see what comes to your life as a gift.
Drop the chains of the past, stop judging and change perspective.
Action steps
Think R-O-A-R;
R: relax O: open A: ask R: receive
The Problem:
- 1Close your eyes
- 2Breathe in and out at least five times to relax
- 3Open your heart & mind like a child with no expectations
- 4Ask your questions (what do you want, how do you want to feel). Ask for answers.
- 5Release the clinging and allow the thinking and the answers to come