A Practice in Compassionate Non-Attachment

Stay in the present. Noted Jungian analyst Marion Woodman describes the fruits of non-attachment this way: “Detachment liberates the heart from the past and from the future. It gives us the freedom to be who we are, loving in others for who they are. It is the leap into now, the stream of Being in which everything is possible.”

Empowering the now keeps us from being overwhelmed by past and future “what ifs” and “I shoulds” and “if onlys.” Being present in the moment makes it easier to accept what is, as it is, when it is. When beset by feelings of attachment, we can ask ourselves questions like:

• How are my feelings helping their situation?

• Why do I need to feel so involved with ?

• Is there a basic fear motivating my desire to attach to this situation or person?

• If I could move to compassionate non-attachment, how might that feel?

• What can I do right now to help free myself and by detaching?

• If there were a blessing in this situation, what might it be?

Excerpted from How to Stay Upbeat in a Beat Down World by Sue Patton Thoele. Available on Amazon.