Letting go is one of the hardest things for us to do, especially if we are highly attached to the way we think things should be.

Whether we like it or not, we have expectations about things. You might argue that you do not, but my guess is you do expect a certain kind of treatment at a restaurant or other public space. You may say you expect nothing of anyone, but I bet you expect something from yourself.

To be human is to expect. There’s a reason why we use the term ‘expecting’ when a woman is pregnant.

We expect a lot.

And that leads me to the reason why letting go is so incredibly hard. We are hard-wired to expect things. To shift our thinking from what we want to what we have isn’t always easy.

Perhaps you expect your child to attend an Ivy League college and then are disappointed when his path takes a different turn.

Perhaps you expect your spouse to treat you like a God, then are shocked when he or she doesn’t come close to seeing you that way.

Maybe you expect to be paid what you are worth, but cry every time you bring your measly paycheck home.

Going into the full release can help allay those feelings of disappointment.

Whenever I feel expectations creep up the back of my spine and into my skull, I thank them for their time, then breathe them away. I recognize they are there for a reason ~ to foster hope, to shape my reality, to give me a sense of joy. But it is a false joy because oftentimes expectations cannot be met. That’s when the searing pain of disappointment settles into our bones, turning joy into sorrow.

Joy, for the mere sake of it, is more sustainable. Releasing those great expectations, counting our blessings and steeping ourselves in gratitude for What Is and What Shall Be are the cornerstones of immeasurable delight.

Breathe with me now. Thank those expectations, then send them on their way while you go yours.

Going into the full release is a guaranteed path to your personal liberation. Forever.