What Are You Holding On To?- Or How My Old Flipflops Can Change Your Life

Group: Mind Mastery

Written by Karen McCormick on Aug 9, 2009 9:20 pm

I was walking through the house this morning wearing my favorite flipflops as usual when I blew one out. Now, for many people, that would be no big deal. But I am one of those people that likes to be comfortable, and when I find something that feels good,I tend to stick with it. In this case, I never go barefoot except in bed, the swimming pool or the shower and that will never change.

But I'd had those flip flops for six years, back when my husband and I were dating and camped out part of the summer. Those sandals have been all over the west with me. I loved the bright blue wave pattern. Never left home without them. Considering the amount of use they've gotten, it surprised me they lasted this long. It occurred to me, while I was stuffing them in the garbage that those sandals were really a metaphor for the things we hold on to in life. How often do we keep doing things the same way we've always done them, thinking the same way we've always thought, going to the same places with the same people and on and on and on?

Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with repetious thinking or behavior- as long as it is positive and productive in your life. But what about the negative, limiting things in our lives? Like that little voice in your head that keeps telling you "This won't work"? Or the toxic relationships we keep participating in? (If you and your spouse aren't getting along, don't get the idea that I am advocating divorce. I suggest you change the dynamics of your relationship instead.)The habits that we tell ourselves aren't so bad even though on some level we know they keep us from reaching our true purpose in life? Why do we keep holding on to the things that hold us back?

No doubt about it, change is not easy. The world is full of couch potatoes that whine and complain, but never really DO anything. If you are here, at the BN site and especially in this group, then you are clearly not one of those people. So the questions to ask yourself are, "What am I holding on to that is hindering my life and what am I gaining by holding on to this?" "How would my life change if I let it go?"