the Little book of Letting go
“At last a book that not only counsels us to ‘let go’ but that tells us exactly how to do it…. Here's a book that can make a real difference in our daily lives, not just in our heads.”
—HAL ZINA BENNETT, author of Write from the Heart and twenty-eight other books on creativity and spiritual development
“Reading this, I am struck once again by Hugh Prather's down-to-earth brilliance. Letting go—particularly of fear—has been my desire and goal for years. With the help of this book, I am finally beginning to do it!”
—M. J. RYAN, author of Attitudes of Gratitude and 365 Health and Happiness Boosters and editor of The Grateful Heart
“Ah, the freedom gained from releasing old, inhibiting stuff! The dream of such freedom can become a reality with the help of the Hugh Prather's wonderful Little Book of Letting Go.”
—SUE PATTON THOELE, author of The Courage to Be Yourself, Freedoms After 50, and The Woman's Book of Soul
“Letting Go is the key to happiness, success, and all the positive aspects of life. Please do yourself a favor and read it. Then practice it. I guarantee it works, if you work it.”
—WALLY AMOS, author of Watermelon Magic
“Practical while being humorous, this book addresses the most common of human struggles while offering ways to lift the soul to all it is capable of.”
—LEE L. JAMPOLSKY, PH.D., psychologist and author of Healing the Addictive Mind and Smile for No Good Reason
“The Little Book of Letting Go leads to the ‘big heart of loving.’”
—WILLIAM ELLIOTT, author of Tying Rocks to Clouds
“This book brings wit, wisdom, insight, and practical help into some of life's most difficult attachments. “Letting go” seems to be the most difficult thing in life to do. But, with this book, you not only see the wisdom in doing so, you are also given the tools that will facilitate the process.”
—BEVERLY HUTCHINSON, Founder and Director of Miracle Distribution Center
“In his masterful style, Hugh Prather has once again presented a way to a deeper happiness. Put this book into practice and you will have “the twinkly heart of a child.”
—BARRY AND JOYCE VISSELL, authors of The Heart's Wisdom and Meant to Be
Other Hugh and Gayle Prather Titles
That Supplement The Little Book of Letting Go
Spiritual Notes to Myself: Essential Wisdom for the 21st Century
CONARI PRESS
Spiritual Parenting
HARMONY BOOKS
I Will Never Leave You: How Couples Can Achieve the Power of Lasting Love
BANTAM BOOKS
Notes to Myself: 20th Anniversary Edition
BANTAM BOOKS
First published in 2000 by
Conari Press
an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
with offices at:
500 Third Street, Suite 230
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.redwheelweiser.com
Copyright © 2000 by Hugh Prather
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.
ISBN: 978-1-57324-503-6
Cover and Book Design: Suzanne Albertson
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Prather, Hugh.
The little book of letting go : a revolutionary 30 day program to cleanse your mind, lift your spirit, and replenish your soul / Hugh Prather.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-57324-503-8 (trade paper)
1. Peace of mind. 2. Peace of mind—Problems, exercises, etc. I. Title.
BF637.P3 P73 2000
158—dc21
00-022063
Printed in the United States of America
RRD
10 9 8
www.redwheelweiser.com/newsletter
To Gayle with love
(As with all our books, this was a team effort. Gayle contributed the title, the theme, and worked out most of the concepts. I did the writing.)
the Little book of Letting go
Foreword by Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D.
Letting Go of the Fear of Letting Go
Two Letting Go of Mental Pollutants
Letting Go of Our First Reaction
Letting Go of Motivation through Crisis
Three Letting Go of Emotion Fixation
Letting Go of Money Anxiety and Travel Worries
Letting Go of Anticipated and Unanticipated Emotions