Have you ever found that what you most want often comes to you just at the point when you let of wanting it so much?
Think about the time you forgot someone's name or when you misplaced your car keys. Last weekend I was attending a course and the trainer wanted to know the name of a wonderful man I had studied with recently. 'Phillip .......' I replied and could not recall his all important surname. The harder I tried, the more I knew it would not come. So I gave myself permission to let go of trying to remember. As soon as I truly let go, lo and behold, his name popped straight into my head!
A recent article in Scientific American's Mind magazine posits that relinquishing power over oneself appears to thwart overthinking and “liberate” people for more authentic relationships. We admire people who show determination and have the will power to succeed at what they do. We look up to those who have the self discipline to get up early to run 2 miles, or avoid eating chocolate or drinking too much wine. Self control is cherished and applauded and we try to install such things in our children. Too much self control and will power has a downside and relinquishing personal power can be a tonic for our times.
The article highlights some research that shows when we have less power over self control we are less inhibited, more candid and more authentic. Which works wonders in our relationships with our selves and others.
Read Try a Little Powerlessness .
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