Letting go can refer to any number of things, from letting go of a piece of clothing, a car, an emotion, memory or a friend. It could even be saying goodbye to a family member. It is not always as hard as we think and could simply be a matter of “out with the old and in with the new,” but other times, letting go may not be quite that easy and possibly even heart breaking. Letting go is a part of life and sometimes necessary in order for us to grow and step into ourselves.
“Letting go isn’t about having the courage to release the past; it’s about having the wisdom to embrace the present.”
~Steve Maraboli
Common areas of letting go:
- Negative thought patterns – We all have an inner chatter that plays an important role in how we perceive the world as well as how we act.
- Expectations – Everyone has these! Expectations of driving, what to wear, how to treat illness…the list goes on.
- Emotions – Anger, frustrations, fear and resentment are good examples of emotions that we hold onto mentally, spiritually and physically. It can be very easy to get lost in these emotions and miss out on what is happening right now.
- Could’ve, Should’ve, What if… – Choices are made and are not always quite what we expected and we wonder what if I had done this, or think, I should/could have.
- Death – We all say goodbye to loved ones throughout our lives, and can hold onto the emotions and circumstances surrounding these memories
By letting go, we can learn, grow and heal. It can be a liberating feeling that energizes and propels us forward into new experiences and successes that are only thought to be mere dreams.
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” ~Dr. Seuss
Essential oils can be very beneficial during these times because of the effect that they have on the limbic system, which corresponds to our memories, feelings and learned responses. The oils can be incorporated into daily life with rollon remedies that can carried with us, or saved for specific moments, such as meditation or sea salt baths-the choices are endless- and depending on your aroma selection, they can be strengthening, uplifting, calming, grounding and invigorating.
Below are some single essential oils that you can choose from based on their properties as well as my own personal experience, but there are many more to choose from ~ let your nose be your guide!
Basil, bergamot, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, cypress, frankincense, geranium, hyssop, jasmine, juniper, lavender, lemon, neroli, orange, patchouli, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, ylang ylang
Please note that single note essential oils are heavily concentrated and need to be diluted before applying to any part of the body.
There are a number of blends that would be beneficial too. I always recommend Saje’s Transitions rollon or face and body mist in a pinch. They have a number of the above mentioned oils in them and work on many levels to support us during times of letting go.