Letting go versus allowing

Yesterday, I shared with someone that I had gotten the inner message I need to "let go." She shared that the word she uses is "allow." I remembered that in my first book "Comments on Leading the Spiritual Life," I had an entire chapter on the idea of allowing. (This book is now out of print and I am getting ready to publish a new edition in the next few months.)

For me, the difference is this. With letting go, there is the sense of releasing something, especially from the past - just let it all go. With allowing, there is more of a sense of letting things be as they are without feeling the need to meddle, knowing that the Universe is in charge - not me. It is a subtle difference.

How does this translate to one's daily life or to a healing journey such as I am on right now? Yes, on an ongoing basis, just let go of what has happened whether in the recent or far past. Then on a daily basis, just allow the Universe to work its magic in whatever way that might show itself. Allow people to be who they are. Allow situations to be what they are.

No, this doesn't turn us into passive people who refuse to interact with our lives. It means the interactions can come from a place of strength of cooperation with the Universe rather than from the place of trying to control it. We still have our plans and go about our days with a sense of purpose. But we do this with an open hand rather than one that is tightly wrapped around the concept that things have to go our way.

Especially right now when it seems so much is outside our control in the world, this is a time to learn to allow the Universe to do what It needs to do to move us forward, do the things we're inspired to do, so we can become the soul-directed humans we are meant to be.