How To Let Go

This week's weekly Grasshopper Notes essay from John Morgan for the week of October 20th is about people telling you to "let go" - a directive without direction. Find out about  a scientific direction in this mini podcast.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

Letting Go

How many times have you heard well-meaning people say, “You just have to let go”?

Sounds simple, right?
But here’s the reality — you can’t will it to happen.

Even if you do manage to for a while, it won’t last.

That’s because “letting go” doesn’t work the way we think it does. It’s not something you do — it’s something that has to let go of you.

Think of perpetual dieters — Oprah comes to mind. They’ve tried every plan known to man . . . or woman . . . and yes, they get results — temporary ones.

Why? Because they rely on the weakest agent of change out there: willpower.

Willpower’s a sprinter trying to run a marathon. It burns out way before the halfway mark.

So how do we actually start to have something let go of us?

There’s a great approach called the 90-Second Rule, from neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor — she’s an expert on how the brain and nervous system work.

Here’s the gist: an emotional response is a 90-second chemical process in the body. After that, anything you continue to feel is just you replaying the thoughts or fears that triggered it in the first place.

If you can simply observe that emotion — no judgment, no inner chatter — for 90 seconds, it naturally begins to fade. And that opens the door to a calmer, more intentional response.So when willpower gives out and your emotions start running the show, that’s your cue: use the 90-Second Rule.

Anything you’re trying to release has an emotional grip on you. And it’ll keep holding on — if you let it.

Observing an emotion means giving it its full 90 seconds. Your only job is to watch it — like a neutral bystander — without getting pulled into the story.

Now, some emotions are stubborn, so you may have to use the 90-Second Rule multiple times before they finally run out of gas.

If you want to go deeper into how this works, I heartily recommend Jill Bolte Taylor’s book, My Stroke of Insight. It’s eye-opening — and it’ll show you how to have an emotion truly let go of you.

All the best,
John