As we head into fall and winter here in the states, I’m letting go of a lot. I’m clearing space for something new to emerge–something I’ve never imagined or hoped for, but have always wanted from the depths of my heart and soul. I’m inviting in the mystery and opening my heart and mind to their truest expressions.

Letting go proves to be quite uncomfortable. There is some stuff I’m giving up that slips away rather easily; I remain attached to those things, ideas, and ways of being for maybe a day; maybe five minutes. There are other things that I’m letting go of in the spirit of fierce hope and trust—hope that they’ll return healthier and stronger and trust that I’m doing the right thing at the perfect time. I’m still attached in those many areas, but practicing grace and faith in the face of them helps.

There are a few quotes that speak to me in this moment of transition, and I thought I’d share them with you in case you’re going through transition too. I’ve also shared a bit about how the words influence me. If these words speak to you, spend some time with them…chew on them…let them in. It’s so easy to let quotes inspire us for just a moment and to forget that they’re commonly quoted because they contain deep and universal wisdom. Enjoy!

“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

So true. I hold onto suffering constantly. I love familiarity, and I hate discomfort. That is precisely why I’ve put myself into so many uncomfortable situations in my lifetime–I know that transcending my attachment to comfort and familiarity is my great work. Many people look at my life and think that I’m fearless. I’m not. I’m constantly afraid. But I am indeed courageous.

“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you. None can make you spiritual. There is no teacher but your own soul.” –Swami Vivekananda

Even those things outside of yourself that you’re clear were your teachers were really reflections of your soul. Trust the wisdom that lives there. It’s wise!

“Man learns through experience, and the spiritual path is full of different kinds of experiences. He will encounter many difficulties and obstacles, and they are the very experiences he needs to encourage and complete the cleansing process.” Sai Baba

I once had a Turkish bath in Turkey. The woman scrubbed me clean until my skin felt raw. It hurt! But I emerged feeling so bright, sparkly, and refreshed.

“Enlightened leadership is spiritual if we understand spirituality not as some kind of religious dogma or ideology but as the domain of awareness where we experience values like truth, goodness, beauty, love and compassion, and also intuition, creativity, insight and focused attention.” –Deepak Chopra

Imagine if the leaders in our world lived from this awareness. Magical. Brilliant. Powerful. Imagine if we lived from this awareness. We are the leaders, and we can choose to live from here.

“If I go into the place in myself that is love, and you go into the place in yourself that is love, we are together in love. Then you and I are truly in love, the state of being love. That’s the entrance to Oneness…” –Ram Dass

Ahh, yes. Sometimes we can drop into this space of love while in union, and sometimes we have to let go of someone or something to drop into this space of love. We can choose to drop in and ask others to join us. We can enter Oneness.

“The thinking mind is what is busy. You have to stay in your heart. You have to be in your heart. Be in your heart. The rest is up here in your head where you are doing, doing, doing.” –Ram Dass

Wow, this can be hard. So much of our society, especially in the west, asks us to use our minds. Dropping into the heart can feel scary and even irresponsible. But try it. It’s amazing and worth the effort.

“It’s easy to come up with new ideas; the hard part is letting go of what worked for you two years ago but will soon be out-of-date.” -Roger von Oech

I love to be attached to the ideas and practices that worked brilliantly for me at some point. But my attachment to them–as brilliant as they were and continue to be–keep me from a new, more wonderful and expansive expression.

“Relationships are eternal. The ‘separation’ is another chapter of the relationship. Often, letting go of the old form of the relationship becomes a lesson in pure love much deeper than any would have learned had the couple stayed together.” -Marianne Williamson

Keep in mind that this can apply to the relationship between two people, among many people, or between you and an idea, event, or circumstance. And man, sometimes it is so hard to let go and trust that the result of letting go will be a purer love. Letting go requires such trust and risk. But what if the result is indeed a purer and deeper love? Wouldn’t that be worth the relatively temporary pain?

I happen to believe that we all are transitioning through something constantly, but sometimes that transitioning is a bit more noticeable and intense. If you are in the space of fierce transition, I send you love and remind you to practice patience and trust—all will be well.

In love and liminality,

Annie Rose