There’s a line in Star Wars (Episode IV – or the first Star Wars for those of you who are old enough to remember it coming out in 1977!) where Princess Leia says to Grand Moff Tarkin “The more you tighten your grip, the more star systems will slip through your fingers”.  Now I realise that there probably isn’t a Grand Moff amongst you reading this, or that you are trying to control Star Systems in the Universe! However, it’s quite a good metaphor for life, don’t you think?

Have you noticed that the more you try to hang onto things the more they seem to be slipping away?  The fear we have of losing things is just drawing the loss closer and closer.  Remember the law of attraction – wherever you put your attention is what you attract more of.  So the more you fear something, the more you give it your attention, the more likely it is that it will happen.

Another metaphor here is holding sand in your hand. The more you squeeze your grip on the sand, more of it actually leaks out between the gaps.  You could of course decide to get a bag and fill the bag up with sand and carry that with you but, in the end, the bag will become heavy and cumbersome and just weigh you down.  Also, carrying that bag of sand around with you will inhibit your ability to carry other things that you’ll need later on.  So if you let go of the sand, it leaves your hands free to carry anything else that comes your way.

Another thing about this too, of course, is that if everyone went to the beach and took a bag of sand, in the end there’d be no sand for anyone to play with.  So we’d all lose out.  Better to have a day on the beach and have a wonderful time, with memories that you can take away with you, and leave the sand there for others (and for yourself) for another day.

All these analogies and metaphors are like life – the more you try desperately to hang onto things, money, friendships, possessions, etc the more you are actually squeezing them out of your life.  You’re also blocking the flow so you’ll stop anything new coming your way.  As we move into December and the end of the year, it’s a great time to really think about the previous year and let go of anything you don’t need for next year.  New Year’s Eve – the end of one year and the beginning of a new. Do you really want to be starting next year loaded down with a bag of sand that, really, has served its purpose already?

It’s worth thinking about those things in your life that you’re gripping hold of where it would benefit you much more to open your hands and let them flow.  Chances are that the Universe has something new and more exciting to give to you.  You’ll also be giving others the opportunity of experiencing those things for themselves too – thus helping to make the world a better place.  Let Go.  Allow.  Experience the joy of expansion.