If you want to be healthy spiritually, morally, and physically, just let go and let God. Let go of the annoyances of everyday life; the irritations and the petty vexations that cross your path daily. Don’t take them up, don’t nurse them, pet them, or brood over them. Let go of them.

They are not worth it.

That undeserved slight you got from someone. Perhaps it wasn’t intended, perhaps it was, but never mind, let it go. Refuse to let it bother you. Let go of that feeling of anger you have when someone slights you, puts you down, or mocks you. Let it go before it turns from anger into rage, and then into resentment that will tear you up like a cancer inside. If you hold onto anger, it will occupy a space in your mind that will destroy your own peace of mind. Get rid of it for you are better than that.

You are a child of God.

The same applies to jealousy, pride, greed, envy, and malice. Let go of all such urges. Sweep them out of your mind, and you will be surprised what a cleansing and rejuvenating effect it will have upon you. If you continue to indulge negative emotions, you will only hoard them and store them at a deadly risk to your soul. And what about the big troubles? The bitter disappointments, the deep wrongs, and the sorrows and tragedies of life itself. How do you deal with them? Let them fall away, like barren leaves falling from a tree. The Lord allows troubles and tragedies in your life to draw you closer to Him. These troubles and sufferings are inevitable in your transitory life. They serve a purpose.

Let them bear good fruit.

My good friend, Tom, shared his story with me about how difficult it is to let go. He worked as a police officer in a precinct in New York, and was confronted with a terrible dilemma. The sergeant in charge of the precinct didn’t like him, and made life for him a living hell. Wondering what to do, Tom consulted with an older friend about what he should do. His friend said compassionately, “Tom, you’ve no idea what’s torturing that sergeant to act like that. You’ve got to get out from under it.” To which Tom replied, “how do I do that and keep my job?” Well, his friend said, “what time does the sergeant arrive at the precinct?” Without hesitation, Tom said, “eight o’ clock in the morning.” His friend then advised Tom to arrive around 7:30am; and to prepare a fresh brew of coffee. When the sergeant would enter the precinct, Tom’s friend suggested: “go greet him with a tasty cup of the freshest coffee.” Tom thought about it and did exactly what his friend suggested the very next day. The sergeant gladly took the coffee to his office and, while sipping it contentedly, he kept casting a puzzling glance, now and again, to where Tom was seated in the precinct. The good news is that the sergeant never bothered Tom after that.

All because Tom was able to let go, and allow his actions to bear good fruit.

It is important also to ask the Lord to satisfy your needs. Then, all those pet peeves you have been nursing inside you and talking about will pass away like melting snow. Focus on the good news, instead, and it will come to you, flowing over you like water from a shower. It is not hard once you get used to the habit of focusing on the good news. You will find it easy to get rid of the things that mar and embitter your life, and you will enjoy letting them go. You will find the world a beautiful place. You will find it beautiful because you will be free to enjoy it; free in mind, free in soul and free in body. The greatest factor in helping us to “let go” is to see with the eye of faith that God permits these daily, indeed hourly, annoyances. If you look at them in the light of the gospel, you shall profit by them in this life and in the life to come. Wise people learn to adjust themselves to this universe over which God rules with infinitive wisdom and love. Thus the first condition of peace of mind is to let go of the annoyances and troubles of each day, and to let God satisfy your needs ( Matthew 6 : 34 ).

If you value peace of mind, focus on the good news.

Let me conclude with the Serenity Prayer that God may grant you the peace of mind that surpasses understanding :

“God grant you the serenity to accept the things you cannot change,

” the courage to change the things you can,

“and the Wisdom to know the difference.”

—Fr. Hugh Duffy