Attachments: Like Nailing Jello To The Wall

"Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be attained only by someone who is detached" ~ Simone Weil

"When you move amidst the world of sense, free from attachment and aversion alike, there comes the peace in which all sorrows end, and you live in the wisdom of the Self." ~ Bhagavad Gita

An attachment is an emotional state of clinging caused by the belief that without some particular thing or person you cannot be happy. This emotional state of clinging is composed of two elements, one positive and the other negative.  The positive element is the flash of pleasure and excitement, the thrill that you experience when you get what you are attached to.  The negative element is the sense of threat and tension that always accompanies the attachment. An attachment by its very nature makes you vulnerable to emotional turmoil and is always threatening to shatter your peace.

If you just enjoy things, refusing to let yourself be attached to them, that is, refusing to hold the false belief that you will not be happy without them, you are spared all the struggle and emotional strain of protecting them and guarding them for yourself.

Attachments can only thrive in the darkness of illusion.

~Taken from the book, "The Way To Love, The Last Meditations of Anthony De Mello"

There are prices to pay for having the belief that your happiness, peace, harmony, contentment or satisfaction is connected to the attachments of people, relationships, things, cars, houses, boats, careers, bank accounts, social status, titles, stuff, etc.  These prices are anxiety, chaos, tension, turmoil, frustration, disappointment, greed, jealousy, anger, dis-ease, disconnection to yourself and others and a list of other things too long to mention here.

Take a moment to list 3 - 5 things, people, situations that you are attached to either on a financial, intellectual, spiritual, physical or emotional level. If this is too difficult, think of the people, things or situations that would cause you unhappiness or pain if you were to lose them. Here are some examples.

Are you attached to keeping a youthful appearance?
Are you attached to having the latest technology or keeping up with the latest trends?
Are you attached to your children following a certain path?
Are you attached to being the life of the party or fitting into a certain club or group of friends?
Are you attached to perfection, comfort or convenience?
Are you attached to being happy and peaceful all the time?

Now think of all the things you do or think about to maintain the objects of your attachment. Are you really happy in your illusion that you can't live without it or them? I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is no such thing as security or guarantee in the objects of your attachments. It is all on loan and can be recalled at any moment. You are playing General Manager of the Universe and the juggling act, chaos and lack of control are wearing you out.  Now would be a great time to awaken to the culprit of your unhappiness and let go of the belief that you can't live without a certain person, thing or situation being in your life. Take a deep breath and release the need to believe that you are "not enough" without your attachments.

How much time, energy, resources or money does it take to maintain your illusion? Is that working for you? What do your attachments allow you to avoid, deny, expect, control, enable, pretend, stuff, hide or judge? 

What would you have to be willing to experience, learn, accept, forgive or acknowledge to let go of your attachments? What action or practice could you put in place today to support you in letting go of your attachments?

Contact me to explore what might be next for you on your journey towards  a more peaceful today and a much brighter tomorrow!