I'm on a five-year nothing roll when it comes to New Year's resolutions. Of course, there's always something more to say about nothing, so I'll do just that after sharing links to my previous paeans to irresolution.
2010: "New Year's enlightenment resolution: nothing"
2011: "Don't make resolutions for the New Year -- just live it."
2012: "'Nothing' is my spiritual resolution for the New Year"
2013: "Thanks, godless heathens, for a good blog year"
2014: "Brains are us: a fresh thought for a New Year"
(Yes, I managed to squeeze some thoughts about nothing into the 2013 and 2014 posts.)
This year one of my main sources of inspiration came early on, in January. That's when I belatedly discovered the magic of the "Let It Go" song in the movie Frozen.
Today I fired up my post about the song and watched the video of that part from the movie again. I find it really inspiring.
Oh, yes. Let it go. Tell it like it is, Elsa. (Full lyrics are in my previous post.)
Couldn't keep it in, Heaven knows I tried.
Don't let them in, don't let them see.
Be the good girl you always have to be.
Conceal don't feel, don't let them know.
Well, now they know!
Let it go, let it go!
Can't hold it back anymore.
Let it go, let it go!
Wouldn't it be wonderful if our inner Me and outer Me were much more in tune than, for most of us, they are now?
Especially when it comes to religiosity, spirituality, the meaning-of-it-all.
When we feel something deep in our hearts, yet act outwardly in a different way, that creates the tension Elsa sings about.
Can't hold it back anymore.
She's talking about the joy of authenticity and naturalness. Watching the video again and re-reading the lyrics, I was struck by how Elsa bears more than a little resemblance to a Daoist sage.
Turn away and slam the door.
I don't care what they're going to say.
Let the storm rage on.
The cold never bothered me anyway.
It's funny how some distance,
makes everything seem small.
And the fears that once controlled me, can't get to me at all
It's time to see what I can do,
to test the limits and break through.
No right, no wrong, no rules for me.
I am free!
Let it go, let it go.
I am one with the wind and sky.
Let it go, let it go.
No right, no wrong, no rules for me.
I am one with the wind and sky.
What if we could see that whatever we are, whatever we have become, whatever thoughts and feelings we have, all this is the natural result of what had to be, because it is?
This isn't a fatalistic attitude. Just a realistic one.
Sure, if there is something we want to change or improve about ourselves, we should try to achieve that goal. But not because of a worry that we risk God's wrath by failing to live up to the standard of some religious commandment.
And the fears that once controlled me, can't get to me at all.
So, yeah, let it go in 2015. Even if you feel like you've discarded past beliefs that were holding you back from expressing your authentic self, usually there's more to let go of.
Until nothing but truth remains. Happy New Year!
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