Open Your Hands

Hey family!

I grew up in a single parent household. Everyday, I watched my mom seemingly do the impossible taking care of my brother and I by herself. She would wake up early in the morning, put on her military uniform, get my brother and I ready for school, go to work and work late, pick us up, take us to practice, make dinner, check homework, and get us all ready for the next day. Watching her, I knew it had to be hard. Hard work wasn’t just a talk or a lesson for me, hard work was on full display in my life for as long as I can remember. 

Mimicking my mom’s, my own ability to work hard set me apart and my work ethic was praised. There was something in me that kept me from quitting, and it was something that demanded I put my all into whatever I do. 

And this was good. Being a hard worker and having a great work ethic are tools that can elevate you to new heights, for sure. But somewhere along the way, I swore so much by hard work that if I wasn’t putting my blood, sweat, and tears into something, then it didn’t feel valid. If an intense amount of struggle wasn’t involved, I felt as though I didn’t actually deserve it. 

So I moved through life for most of it with my fists clenched, fighting. What I knew best was to put my head down, dig deep, and fight to get it done no matter the difficulty. The problem is, how could I have been ready to receive the things I desired when my hands were constantly clenched tight? 

It wasn’t until (very) recently that I’ve learned to take a position of relaxation and acceptance. I had to learn to open my hands. 

Sometimes, instead of fighting so hard for something I feel is best, the best course of action is to step back and let what is best find me. 

There’s a time to close your hands, and there’s a time to open them. Here’s one of my favorite quotes from Sadhguru, 

“In a state of absolute acceptance, life within shall happen in great proportions.”

Reflection Question: In your heart, are you living in a state of effortless acceptance?