LETTING GO

David R. Hawkins

The Mechanism of Letting Go

Everything in the universe emits a vibration. Emotions, as forms of energy, also emit vibrations that affect our bodies and surroundings. These emotional vibrations can be seen in changes in our aura, measured through muscle testing, and are transmitted to the universe through the mind, which is not limited by space.

Our emotional states influence people and events around us, often attracting like vibrations (e.g., anger attracts anger, love promotes love). This principle shows that our internal states shape our external experiences. Letting go of negativity allows more positive and loving experiences to enter our lives.

Letting it all Go
Letting it all Go

Letting go involves:

  1. Being aware of a feeling
  2. Letting it come up
  3. Staying with it
  4. Letting it run its course without interference

The process requires allowing the feeling to exist without judgment, resistance, or an urge to change it. By fully experiencing the feeling, its energy dissipates, and it eventually disappears. Resistance is what keeps our feelings persistent.

Initially, we may feel fear or guilt about having certain feelings. Letting go of that reaction first can help us access the core emotion. The focus should be on the feeling itself, not the thoughts about it, as thoughts are just rationalizations created by the mind.

As we practice letting go, we realize that negative feelings are linked to survival fears and mental programs. These feelings are not truths about ourselves but constructs of the ego. As the technique progresses, we become the observer or witness of our experiences, no longer identifying with emotions.

Surrendering means being unattached: being okay whether something happens or not. This detachment aligns with spiritual teachings to live in the world without becoming entangled in it. Full surrender often brings a sense of lightness and joy, and consistent practice helps maintain this state.

Resistance to letting go is common because it threatens the ego. This can manifest as skepticism, forgetting the technique, or acting out emotions. The key is to let go of the resistance itself and the fear behind it. Recognize the ego’s tricks and continue letting go without judgment.

Letting go is a natural process. Avoid overthinking the technique; just practice it. With time, thoughts become less important, and we recognize their role in resisting true experience. The real Self exists in the silence and space between thoughts.

We have all had moments of quiet absorption and effortless action. These are glimpses into the state achieved through letting go. Thoughts are distractions that pull us away from this state.

A hidden inner truth is that we already know all we need to know. Letting go reveals this truth. Ironically, success with the technique may lead us to stop using it, but this halts our progress. We should continue letting go, especially when feeling good, as this is a powerful time to release deeper suppressed emotions.

Sometimes we feel stuck with a feeling. In such cases, surrender to the stuckness itself or let go of the feeling in small parts. Another barrier is the fear that letting go of desires will prevent fulfillment. To overcome this, release beliefs such as:

  • Suffering is beneficial
  • Nothing comes for free
  • Simplicity has little value
  • Only hard work and struggle yield results

Letting go of these mental blocks allows for an easier and more joyful use of the technique.

Source- Letting Go, by David R. Hawkins.