When something untoward has happened, then that is exactly when you must let go of it. Because it is untoward, that is why you must let it lie where it lies. If something happened, it happened. You did not want it to happen, but it happened, and there is no putting it back together again. It is bad enough that it happened, and now when you belabor it, you repeat the happening again and again. If you did not like it in the first place, then drop it. Move your mind on to other things, especially things that give you some moments of happiness.
Even when what you call tragedy occurs, you don’t need to keep going over it again and again. You have to let go of it. Even if you were sentenced to a crime you didn’t commit, you can’t let it keep eating at you. Do not force yourself to let go of it. Simply turn your attention elsewhere. There are other things to think about.
This does not mean avoiding issues. It means to stop aggravating over them.
When there is death, or illness, or even some tiny aggravation that gnaws at you, have the intention to let it go. It is the pain, the hurt, the questioning that you are letting go of. You are not denying the event. You simply decide that you don’t have to keep revisiting the scene of the crime any longer.
If your purse were stolen, it was stolen. Do not keep counting the money in the wallet that you no longer have.
If you overpaid for something, must the thought of it haunt you? The question is: Must you harbor heartache? Is there some mysterious value in stabbing yourself by reliving a scene again and again? Does it have to stay so vivid in your mind?
If you can forget to pick up something at the store, can’t you forget what ails you? If you can forget about all the things you forget about, then why rehash what was not pleasant in the first place?
What is the point of bitter rue? Rue is not medicine that you have to take. There is no virtue in eating bitter fruit. Let go of your anguish. No matter what the cause, let go of it.
When you are in a dark room, you know enough to turn on the light. You don’t hold on to the darkness as if for dear life. When you have darkness of thought, do the same. Turn on a switch. Turn on the light, or go into a different room. It is no big deal to have had enough of suffering and aggravation. Suffering and aggravation are hot potatoes. Don’t keep them in your hand.
In your mind, let go of thunderous thoughts. Even when there are storms outside, must there be one inside as well?
When you cogitate and recogitate past events, you stalemate yourself. Your own thoughts become an impediment to your growth. Let go of this idea that suffering is good for you, or that it makes you a better person. Find other ways to make yourself a better person. Try carefreeness instead. Try joy. Try smiling. Climb a tree and come from a different perspective.
There is enough suffering in the errant world. The world doesn’t need yours. You don’t need yours. Why keep it then? Sometimes you roll up all the little impertinences and aggravations of life into one great ball of yarn. This is something you’re good at. What kind of an accomplishment is that? It takes no great skill, or, if it does, you have perfected that skill. Now move on to learning new skills, beloveds, like how to leave repetitive thoughts behind you.