Letting Go by David R. Hawkins

This past Christmas, my sister gifted me a book she said she had read and reread and taught her something. This book was David R. Hawkins' Letting Go. The purpose of this book is to help readers practice its title, and although it took me quite a while to finish, I do feel that I have learned a little bit more about letting go.

David R. Hawkins is a well known psychiatrist, physician, researcher, and spiritual teacher. In Letting Go, one of his many books, he describes the simple and effective means in which we could physically and mentally let go of any obstacles and negativity we encounter in our daily lives. He talks about the importance of resisting be reactive and truly taking into account the situations we face and the best ways to solve them. Hawkins dives deep into the emotional stages that one goes through in life when trying to reach the ultimate self, something not many of us succeed at due to programs created by society, culture, and family as well as our own pessimistic perspectives. He categorizes the feelings from the bottom to the top as follows:

Grief

Fear

Desire

Anger

Pride

Courage

Acceptance

Love

Peace

Hawkins also describes in detail and through personal stories and examples how letting go can reduce physical illnesses and stress and the anatomy of our emotions. He talks about the relationship between the body and the mind, and the transformations that could occur in life by trying to let go.

Without further detailing the words, I think everyone should dabble in the reading of this book, especially if they are feeling a little lost and out of place. While I have picked up and began a few self-help books, as this book is categorized, I have yet to finish any except this one. David R. Hawkins writes in a beautiful, simplistic way that is easy to follow and allows the reader to, not only go at their own pace, but understand something that can be seen as so intricate.

Thank you to my sister for giving me this book and I hope that you, reader, consider picking it up too.