I’ve been a life coach for men for about 30 years. As I’ve matured and gained experience through coaching men, and as a result of my own personal journey, my clients have witnessed quite a seismic shift in my views on many issues. And one of those relates to energy. As I say quite often, it’s all energy!
So, what am I talking about?
When we examine positive and negative emotions, thoughts of all kinds, the words we speak, and all of our actions, we’re really witnessing the manifestation of energy in some of its many forms.
The universe consists of very small particles, all of which contain various forms of energy. We, as humans, are part of that universe and are also made of these particles. Energy is what runs our central nervous system, directs our body to move as we desire, allows us to create thoughts, and fills our mind and body with emotions.
We know that it’s all energy because we have phrases in our language that we use to describe that everyday. For instance:
- That dude has some negative energy.
- That performance was amazing, she has such great energy.
- Let’s get out of this restaurant; the energy is really off.
- I think I’ll rest today because my energy is really low, etc.
We are sensitive to energy, even if many of us give it little thought. Though we can feel when a tense interaction calms down, we may not realize that what we’re experiencing is an energetic shift. And it’s this kind of energetic shift that we want to focus on when attempting to remove negative energy by practicing acceptance and letting go.
How to Practice Acceptance and Letting Go
Before we dive into the energetic shift we want to see happen so that we remove negative energy and allow space for something better, healthier to take its place, let’s define what it means to practice acceptance and letting go.
Acceptance is the opposite of resistance. For us humans, the pain we experience is always in the resistance. When we deny, fight, or deflect, all we’re doing is temporarily pushing things away or down. When we accept, what we’re doing is acknowledging what is at that moment. Acceptance isn’t about acquiescing or approving. It’s simply about seeing what is real for you in that moment. Once we can accept what is, we can then make choices as to how we’d like to proceed and what changes we would like to initiate.
We know that everything is energy. So when we think about how to cope with negative emotions or how to stop negative thoughts and emotions, we’re really talking about moving the negative energy or allowing the energy associated with those thoughts and emotions to move through and out of our physical bodies, or letting go.
Here’s a list of negative emotions you might like to let go of:
- Anger
- Jealousy
- Resentment
- Rage
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Shame
- Embarrassment
- Sadness (though sadness is most often a positive, though uncomfortable emotion)
Although there are professionals trained to work with your body and to assist you in moving all forms of energy, you don’t need any special certifications to move the energy associated with these negative emotions on your own. It’s really just a matter of focus and intention.
How to Practice Letting Things Go
The first step is recognizing that something doesn’t feel right to you in your body. Most people are moving so quickly through their lives that they are disconnected from their bodies. They’re in their heads. This disconnection prevents us from acknowledging the signs that our bodies—physical, spiritual, and emotional—are in need of attention.
When you become aware, it’s then a matter of developing practices that can allow you to change your mood, thoughts, or perspective by removing negative energy. When the energy moves, you’ll actually feel the difference. It’s quite something.
Here’s one way to cleanse negative energy from your emotional body through visualization.
Step One:
Sit comfortably, as you would for mediation. You can either sit upright or lay down. It might be helpful to play relaxing music and/or burn some form of incense, palo santo, etc.
Step Two:
Take a few deep, slow breaths until you begin to feel more present for this exercise. Then, just breathe normally for a few minutes, focusing on the inhales and exhales. This will help you bring more of your attention to this energetic practice.
Step Three:
Imagine there are shutters, like window shutters, attached to your heart. Visualize these shutters opening so that there’s a path to release the negative energy being trapped in your body.
Step Four:
As you continue to breathe slowly and deeply, you’re going to actually visualize the removal of your negative energy. With each inhale, you will welcome in acceptance of feelings you’re having, knowing that they are natural, even though uncomfortable. And as you exhale, you’re allowing those feelings to release and float away because you’re no longer in need of holding on to them. You’re letting them go…you’re learning to let go.
It’s a simple process, but one that needs to be done repeatedly. You can sit for a couple of minutes or longer. The idea is to sit long enough for a shift to happen that you can feel in your body or your mind. Sometimes that can happen quite quickly. When first starting out, it may take a while. Be patient.
What you’re doing is teaching your body a new and healthy way to be in a relationship with your emotions. Like any skill, it takes time to master. The good news is that it’s possible to feel real positive results fairly quickly. Now, not every attempt will bring the same results. Like any meditation, no two sets are ever the same.
What I’ve offered here is just one way for you to remove negative energy by practicing acceptance and letting go. There are many other ways to work with acceptance and letting go. Every man’s story is different, as are his particular needs, and most men can benefit from the support of an experienced guide who can shepherd them through the process. It’s a journey well worth the effort.
If you’re ready, you can book a 1-on-1 free consultation for 15 minutes so we can discuss ways you can be successful with your own efforts to let go and move on!
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