ENDING THE YEAR without Going APE $*!T-Let go of the monkey Trap

Letting go is hard, when the pursuit of pleasure meets the uncertainty of a changing climate.

This is how you trap a monkey:

First, you need to find a place where monkeys hang out. Next, find a heavy gourd or large coconut – something that’s about the same weight as the monkey you want to catch, with an opening just large enough for the monkey to get its hand in. Then, in full view of the monkey, place the coconut on the ground and drop something small and tasty inside; rice, cut banana, or peanuts are good, but to a curious monkey anything you put in there might just prove irresistible. Then, stand back and watch. If all goes to plan, an inquisitive monkey will be overcome by the urge to find out just what good things have been gifted to it. The monkey will reach inside the gourd or coconut, it will grasp whatever you have left for it, and with a fist full of trinkets it is now unable to remove its hand from the opening. The monkey is so greedy that he won’t let go of the handful of rice, banana--whatever. He just waits there with his greedy fist wrapped around the rice until the people come and capture him. All you need to do, is walk up to the monkey and release it from the bondage of its freedom.

This example suggests that until one is willing to let go of the comparison like lifestyle, or worry they have, they are at risk of becoming enslaved by that very worry or comparison. It’s a compelling metaphor; made more compelling some might say, because it features a monkey.

Putting the monkey aside for the moment (with or without its fist stuck), the idea that we are motivated more by the pursuit of pleasure than the threat of pain is not a new one. If, for example, we look closely at why people appear unwilling to alter their behaviors, the similarities are not lost on those that are familiar with theories of hedonic motivation. And that’s most of us, isn’t it?

Here’s my take: This motivation theory suggests that people are generally predisposed to do more to pursue pleasure than they are to move away from pain. Pain leaves many of us feeling trapped, just like the monkey we can reduce our pain by letting go of the banana called suffering.

This is not to say we are monkey like, it’s just that we have fallen into a trap of thinking that our life with pain from our trauma will always be with us. We can’t let go. We don’t stop to think that if we live IN the pain, rather than through the pain…we are only manifesting more pain. Like losing the piece of fruit, the fear is that we will lose our control and the pain will overcome us.

It is true if the monkey lets go off the banana he will lose it, but will gain his freedom, it is the same for those of us in pain. Letting go requires us to accept the current situation of being in pain and then relax to allow it to flow through us. Be grateful that we can feel. After the pain has been felt, what will be left? If you hold on…you can’t make room.

Life doesn't seem fair when others have more than you, but God tells us in the 10th commandment to be content with what we have. God wants us to be thankful for what we have and to trust Him, trust His process. Trust the lesson.

It’s our resistance that causes our suffering and if we don’t resist the situation, we are then left with only the sensation of discomfort (or pain).

Example

Sometimes our mind will be over thinking, which is always on the go analysing and coming up with theories and ideas.

Take 30 seconds and try and not think of a pink elephant with a blue umbrella. Go on try it for 30 seconds.

It is impossible because the moment you attempt not to think of it you have already thought of it. This is frustrating, but this frustration also holds the answer to the key of letting go and feeling.

Our observing mind is viewing this frustration when trying not to think of the elephant. Our observing described as the unchanging part of us all that has been aware of all our emotions, thoughts and our body our whole life. It’s the part of you that has been constant throughout your whole life, it is the true you. But to be free with faith is to be plugged into God’s power. When you’re plugged in to God’s power you learn to respond and not react to the sensation of discomfort.

The difference between responding and reacting is that by being in God’s presence you can give yourself space to choose the best option for you in each individual situation. If we react we are using fear and losing faith, but we are so much more than any one moment. The trick is to accept them [thoughts, feeling and the body] surrender, and then let go of what isn't serving us and where we want to go. We are all in this together….you won’t move out of 2022 alone and we will be here to support you to have an awesome 2023!!!!