Written by Phil Okrend – A few weekends ago, I had the privilege to attend a workshop at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. Omega is a wonderful retreat and educational center offering courses on personal and societal change from some of the leading authors, speakers and educators in the country. The title of the workshop I signed up for was “Reduced To Joy, The Journey From the Head to the Heart.” That title resonated for me because as an ex attorney, I was trained to live in my head. Even though I made some big changes in my life, transitioning from the life of an attorney to an entrepreneur, and now a writer and life coach, it was still hard to shake off some of the old patterns that seemed to come from my head. I was still grappling with issues such as trying to control outcomes, or situations, taking things personally, or striving to achieve goals that had little authentic meaning for me. I felt that taking this workshop would serve to help me “Let Go” and really move into my heart, the place I really wanted to live.

From the beginning, the workshop, and the way it was presented started to work its magic on me. I noticed that the instructor had no written outline and there was no power point presentation. There was no agenda at all except to create an environment of presence where the sharing of experience would be honored. The instructor read from his books. He shared stories and poems about life that were about real things that happen to all of us. The heartache of loss, how an illness can shape us, how unexpected events can change one’s direction, and how through all of it, there can be a depth of joy regardless of the obstacles we encounter. Almost everyone in the room shared, and it was sharing from the heart. It was powerful.

I left the weekend workshop at Omega feeling moved and knew that I was entering a new period of transformation. I knew that for me to make the shift, I would still need to let go, but I also realized that I had already begun. By moving to Asheville after being in the same town for 19 years, and by writing and publishing a new book about healing and personal empowerment, I had entered a new phase of a journey. I embrace that journey, and am starting to trust in the more unknown but true path ahead of me.

I believe that the path for all of us to make true change in our lives starts with “Letting Go of what no longer serves us.” This is a passage from our book, Messages to the Heart, Reflections of Beauty and Truth. It calls on you to “Let Go.”

Reflections on Following Your Heart

Letting Go

If you don’t know what you want, then let go of what you don’t want. Perhaps when you empty yourself of outdated notions, limiting beliefs, what you thought you had to do from your conditioned mind, then the fruits of a new way will have the room to penetrate. It is much like clearing the dirt and debris to plant a new garden. We fight with ourselves when we try to force ourselves to be a certain way, live up to life standards that weren’t set by us in the first place. Feel what makes you come alive and do that, but first, empty out what is no longer true for you. When you let go, don’t feel that you need to rush into a new way. Allow yourself to take the time to be. Trust, be patient. The new way will come.

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Phil Okrend, Certified Life and Business Coach, transitioned from being an attorney, to the life of a creative entrepreneur, writer, speaker and musician. Phil is the author of the new coffee table book “Messages to the Heart, Reflections of Beauty and Truth,” which pairs his mindful poetic writings with the art of his wife, Asheville based pastel artist Elise Okrend.