When You Know...Let it Go

Photo by Phyllis Smith - "Sunrise Reflections"

I am a ruminator.

Even when everything seems to be going well…when I feel aligned, grounded, and at peace…my mind can wander into darkness.

And it frustrates me.

Because the truth is, I feel deeply blessed. I have a wonderful family. Beautiful friendships. I’m doing the work. I love helping others feel joy, groundedness, and inner peace.

And yet…my mind still goes there.

I’ll find myself thinking about other people’s lives—what they’re doing, what I think might be best for them, how things should be. I’m not saying any of this out loud…it's all happening quietly in my own head.

Or I’ll revisit a conversation from years ago.

Or I’ll jump ahead into something that hasn’t even happened yet.

Are you like this?

This is why awareness matters so much.

Because when you know…you can let it go.

The alternative is getting pulled into the current of your thoughts and emotions—letting them hijack your mind and carry you away from the very peace you’ve created.

But when you become aware, something shifts.

You come back.

You reclaim your Stability.

Recently, I experienced that in real time...

I was out walking on a beautiful day. The trees were full, the birds were singing, squirrels were scurrying about, and my dogs were happy. Everything around me felt alive and in harmony.

And I realized…my SELF was aligned.

My Stability—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual—felt strong.

My Environment was beautiful, peaceful, and nourishing.

My heart was full of Love after sharing a meaningful Passover Seder with my family.

My Friendships…steady, deep, and enduring. The kind where even after years, you can pick up the phone and feel like no time has passed.

Everything was in place.

And then…I sat down on a bench.

And my mind began to ruminate.

Just like that, I was pulled away from the beauty of the moment.

But here’s the difference…

I noticed.

A quiet voice inside of me said, “You’re ruminating. You’re distracted.”

And instead of getting lost in it, I took stock.

I came back to my SELF.

I’m still on the journey of understanding why this happens—why the mind can slip into a kind of fight-or-flight mode even when everything is calm.

But what I do know is this:

Awareness gives me a choice.

It gives me the ability to pause…to gently redirect…to return.

And that, to me, is everything.

So if you find yourself there—in the loop, in the spiral, in the story your mind is telling—

Pause.

Notice.

Name it.

Because when you know…

You can let it go.

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SELF Reflection:

Where in your life are your thoughts pulling you away from the present moment—and what might shift if you simply noticed them, without judgment?

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Author, Phyllis Smith

Phyllis Smith is the Founder/CEO of Rejuvecise. She is a Yoga Instructor, Serenity Coach, and S.E.L.F Leadership Guide in the Dallas, Texas area. She is also the creator of the S.E.L.F. Empowerment framework, which develops SELF Leadership through the principles of Stability (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual), Environment, Love (self-compassion), and Friendship. Her mission is to empower people to cultivate clarity, stability, and self-leadership through mind-body practices for a better world. Click HERE to learn more about the variety of services offered and/or contact Phyllis at Phyllis@Rejuvecise.com for a FREE 30-minute discovery call today. (Services offered both in-person and online)