Bill W

I love this book. I don't agree (or find useful) some of his theory and I've struggled with all his other books but the bits I do like in Letting Go I really love! I've seen a few reviews and comments of this book on here. One factor I have not seen referred to much is that he explains that part of letting go of a negative mindset or feeling is to (1) identify the pay off's from that mindset or feeling and (2) focus on surrendering these pay off's. That's my take on the whole thing in a nutshell. Well that's what I choose to focus on. If I don't correctly identify the pay off's, any surrender or letting go is hampered. There is a lot more to his teachings in that book than simply sitting with the emotion until it runs it's course. If it was that simple then everybody would just need a one off therapy session lasting 5mins and told to do this. He did also say that one of his issues he surrendered took him 11 days. All day, everyday with surrendering. I think it was 11 days. He said the negative mindset then disappeared and never returned. I'm not sure I personally believe you banish the mindset/feeling forever, but I'd settle just for making progress on it and using Letting Go to further degrade my ego. This comment is not directed to the OP, it's just I sense that the reviews on this book I've read seem to not refer to the pay off's element of his teaching.

I don't accept that religion causes wars. Human beings cause wars and if there was no such thing as religion I'm pretty sure we would find some other "reason" to go to war.

Hi, In Alcoholics Anonymous, I don't think it's an exaggeration to say it's one of the most important principles of our programme. It's another one of those "principles" that doesn't really mean anything unless it's practiced. Personally, within my own goals and meditations I lump humility & ego together. In my own understanding, moving toward humility, moves me away from my own ego. If I move away from humility, I am moving closer to my ego. For me, my ego needs to be pushed back and kept at the back. In AA there is a wonderful quote from our Big Book along the lines of "Every time we played the big shot, we turned people against us. We concluded that whatever price in humility we must pay, we will pay it". I also like to remind myself of something I learned from Don Miguel Ruiz, along the lines of "You are the most important person in your own story but a secondary character in everyone else's". These are the thought patterns and behaviour I try to bear in mind each day to help me move towards being a more humble human being; Displaying a low sense of self-importance If I become agitated with another person's intention I have to ask myself "Am I sure?" (of their intention) I am aware that my thinking is limited and biased and always will be If I have any obvious power in situations, I try not to exercise it unless I absolutely have to More listening, less talking Try not to come across as defensive Staying out of all arguments Not taking things personally (that's hard work, but vital to my growth!) Saying sorry