A Heavy Load
Sometimes, we need to lose in order to gain. Sometimes the only way to receive something better is to give up what we are currently holding on to. Many times we have the intentions to rid ourselves of undesirable circumstances and their negative consequences, but find ourselves unwilling to make the right choice of letting go.
Consider the story of the Monkey Trap.
Monkeys are smart and agile creatures – being nearly impossible to catch one. After studying the monkeys behavior, the clever hunters of Africa would design monkey traps based on monkeys’ behavior patterns. Hunters would use jars with a long skinny opening slightly larger than a monkey’s hand and place food within them.
When a monkey would see the food in the jar, its hand would reach down inside and grab the food, but the hand is now turned into a fist. It then pulls only to realize that the hand is now stuck. No matter how hard it tries, the hand cannot be freed from the jar. The opening of the jar is simply not large enough for the fist to come out.
The only way the monkey could free its hand would be to let go of the food. Despite possessing the means to escape the trap, the monkey behavior is conditioned to not let go as it grips the food. The hunters would then be able to grab the monkey locked into its own demise and was done for!
Could you be holding on to something that when let go, would improve your circumstance? Instead of things, they could be memories or feelings. They could also be people that you need to let go or walk away from. Or it could mean you need to forgive them and let go of the past.
What are some of your attachments that are no longer bringing you joy? What would have to happen for you to open up your fist and let go? What are the new possibilities awaiting your open hands?
-Busy Brain