How to Let Go of Someone or Something

We have all heard a million times

that we must let go of attachments to be happy.

But saying this is easy; doing it practically is really difficult.

Here is what it truly means to let go and how to approach it correctly.

1. The Common Misconception

Most people think that to let go of attachments,

we have to let go of the objects themselves.

They believe that if we get rid of the things

or people we are attached to, we will be happy.

But the Buddha never said to let go of the things around you.

If you had to physically let go of every object you use,

you would even have to let go of your own body,

which is impossible while living.

2. Attachment is Mental, Not Physical

Attachment is not the object; it is the mind’s relationship to the object.

The Buddha said:

“They are not sensual pleasures, the pretty things in the world…

The pretty things remain just as they are in the world,

but the wise remove the desire for them.”

We must let go of the desire for things to be permanent.

We suffer because we want things to stay exactly as they are,

even though everything is subject to change.

3. The Cow and the Rope Analogy

Imagine dragging a cow by a rope.

The cow pulls one way, and you pull the other.

Your hands get hurt.

Why do your hands hurt? Not because the cow is pulling,

but because you are gripping the rope so tightly.

You are not ready to let go.

Letting go seems scary at first

because we think we will lose everything.

But in reality, we never truly owned anything to begin with.

We came into this life owning nothing,

and we will leave owning nothing.

We are just using these things for a short time.

4. How to Practice Letting Go

The first step is to understand the true nature of life:

everything is constantly changing.

• Every experience, feeling, and person is subject to change.
• You cannot step into the same river twice.

When you realize that wanting things to be permanent is just

an illusion of the mind, you stop being fooled.

Think of a magic show.

If you don’t know how the trick is done, you get fooled.

But if you learn the secret, the magic is no longer “magic” to you.

You can still watch the show and enjoy it,

but you are no longer deluded by it.

Conclusion

Letting go does not mean abandoning the world.

It means letting go of the expectation that things will last forever.

When you remove the demand for permanence,

you can actually enjoy life more wisely and maturely.

You gain nothing and lose nothing,

so you might as well let go of the rope.