When I was a little girl and went to summer camp, a popular game was Tug-of-War. Tug-of-war is played with a long thick rope and two teams of campers. The rope is laid across an imaginary line and each team pulls their side of the rope until the other team is dragged across the line. If one side drops the rope, the game is over. You can’t pull where there is no resistance. Little did I know then, that was my first lesson in the foundations of mindfulness. In the practice of mindfulness, we learn about acceptance. We learn about letting go and being unattached to outcomes. When you stop pulling, when you stop resisting, the battle is over. If you have been playing tug-of-war with your weight, let go of the rope. Accept where you are and take steps to improve. Let go of the struggle by allowing your weight to come off in its own time. By continuing to cultivate your mindful eating and meditation practice you will get across your finish line without pressure or strain. Adapted from Mindful Bites – Joyful Life: 365 Days of Mindful Eating. Available in bookstores everywhere.
Let Go of the Rope
