Learning To Let Go as Presented by Buz McGuire

In honor of finally reaching 21 complaint free days, I dedicate this article to Buz McGuire, author of "The Power Of Release" and creator of "Masters of Release."

Buz's latest Electronic Book explores the art of letting go, or release, and gives the world a gift of positive benefit.

I am proud to say that I contributed a bonus for this wonderful book.

The achievement of 21 days of complaint free living followed a formula that Buz outlines in his book, "The Power of Release."

1) Choosing to feel good (God)

2) Ability to make a decision

3) And then taking immediate action to follow through with the decision which Buz calls the art of making a quality decision.

The impetus behind going 21 days without complaining rested on my desire to feel good by not engaging in the complaints, gossip or criticism of the people in my life, in the news or anywhere else. So I made the decision to follow Will Bowen's recommendations in "A Complaint Free World."

I started by immediately taking a loose rubber band from one wrist to the other the moment I complained out loud.

I had to start over several times.

But now I am happy to report, the experiment was a success!

Throughout these 21 days, I had to let go of any need to voice strong opinions, annoyances, or to join in any conversation that berated any other person, including managerial decisions affecting our Labor and Delivery Unit.

This was especially difficult in Pennsylvania while we worked toward the 4/22/08 primary. I did not join in criticizing any candidate and publically said I liked all three equally.

During this time, I began to study Eckhart Tolle's book, "A New Earth", and Thich Naht Hahn's, "Path of Emancipation," while studying the Oprah/Tolle webinar on Tolle's book, all focusing on the art of living in the present moment.

Buz McGuire states that we must simply make a decision to halt all negativity and the knee jerk reactions that accompany such thoughts.

And I think the key to doing this rests on living in the Now with purpose and determination.

By living in the Magnificient Present Moment, the past cannot take hold. All the reactions and assumptions that are rooted on preconditioned learning from the past, as far back as our childhood, vanish with purposeful inner attention on the here and now.

Tolle states that reactions are of the ego which is inward pollution, similar to the toxic pollution that now threatens to take over our beautiful Mother Earth.

When we breathe in and out consciously, the past with all the reactions and assumptions which never reflects our authentic selves, cannot exist.

When thoughts arise to detract from the flow of living, gently bring yourself back to the breath, to the Now, and the reactions and preconceived notions (false beliefs) simply disappear.

Once I made the decision to cease the complaining, unseen forces delivered further insight to allow for the successful completion of this project and passion.

Choosing to be happy was the first step.

Happiness and complaining cannot and do not coexist.

Making the decision to take the 21 complaint free challenge involved letting go of situations that drew me into the drama, into the "story" of "isn't this terrible," and "how horrible is that?"

Now it's time to make another decision: Go for another 21 day complaint free challenge, one moment, one second at a time.

This time, I made the decision to take a partial Vow of Silence. Naturally, I will answer questions when asked, will educate my patients, will say only the necessary and kind words needed to communicate with my husband, friends and coworkers.

Otherwise, I will listen, and hear the silence that underlies all creation.

And in those quiet spaces, release all that has gone before.

Everyday poses many challenges that are best served by letting go of all resistance that stands in the way of "what is."

"Nothing Real can be threatened, Nothing unreal exists. Therein lies the peace of God."

A Course In Miracles