Let it go...
Lesson from Elsa
If you are a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, an oncle, a friend of a friend of a friend who has a kid you have probably heard that song at least one time :
“Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door
I don't care what they're going to say
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway”
It’s easy for an animated character to sing a song and “pouf” she is transformed into someone who can easily let go. In reality, it’s a bit trickier and speaking for myself, not as easy as changing my dress and letting my hair down!
I am as pigheaded as the next person and learning the art of detaching myself from irritating or stressful events is a challenge. I’ve spent many hours on the yoga mat exploring this need to hold on to gruges and many more in meditation. But, as always, life is lived in the present and through experience. Not in my mind, not in theory. It’s easy to feel detached on the mat, in stressful situations…not as much!
Last week was a perfect example. I had a big event I’ve been working on since September. Starting from a vision on paper to a gathering of 250 guests, live theatrical performances, cocktail and a classy supper! Let me tell you that there was a lot of sweat and tears and a million details to put together to offer a seamless experience to the guests.
In the days before the event, tempers were riding high, my patience could gave held on the back of an ant and I was tired before the whole thing even began.
That’s where I made a choice. The years of yoga and meditation finally kicked in. I chose to let go….of certain things! Aka choosing my battles (a thing that every parent/teacher/coach has learned the hard way).
I almost forgot my resolution when the first thing I saw upon my arrival on the day of the event was chaos. People talking loudly on the sidewalk, trucks parked at odd angles in front of the venue and me, a bit frazzled from a long ride in traffic. I breathe in and out. Shared my frustration for 2 minutes with a colleague and decided to hold on to my choice : letting it go.
POUF. The irritation was released in the wind. I came back to myself, grounded my feet on the ground and went on to the next “problem”.
Because, yes, organizing event comes with all sorts of glitches and, from experience, they are almost inevitable. My attitude was key : either every “problem” would get bigger or I could choose to tackle it for what it was : figureoutable (as would say Marie Forleo).
The delivery chaos, figured out. The electricity problem, figured out (ohhh so fun to delegate). The ticket problem, figured out. And so on and so forth for 15 hours.
I even never been a “chill” person (pun intended). That day I was. I felt solid, grounded, capable of choosing my state of mind. I even smiled most of the time - and it was genuine!
Of course I was tired after that, but I was mostly happy about me. I had finally understood what it was to let go. I felt powerful and sovereign. Elsa might be the ice queen but last week I felt like one!
Yes, I daresay a queen because I believe that being a queen as nothing to do with titles and riches. It has to do with knowing your inner kingdom and governing it in an aligned way.
As François Rabelais so well phrased it in Gargantua and Pantagruel : "For how could I govern others, who cannot govern myself?"
