Sometimes mindfulness meditation practice is called, exercising the letting go muscle. I first encountered the Letting Go meditation at a Vipassana retreat in Byron Bay. At the time I was holding on to a belief that was holding me back. The practice was wonderfully liberating. You can listen to the recorded meditation on Letting Go or use the following instructions as a guide: Find a comfortable place either sitting or lying down. Place your attention on your belly and see if you can notice the breath in the body. Now keeping some awareness on the breath, thinking about whatever it is that you are holding on to that you would like to let go of… a story, a situation, a feeling, a relationship… Whatever it may be, hold it in the heart of compassion. Notice any discomfort and unhappiness that you feel from holding on. Then tune in to your heart and to ask the question – is it time to let this go? Now gently say the words, “Let go, let go, let go”. Over and over. As you continue to repeat the words, see if you can notice the images, the sensations of tightness and holding on inLetting Go – by Chris Phillips