Long time ago, according to the legend, people used to catch monkeys by using a “monkey trap.” This monkey trap is created by putting a banana inside a very heavy jar with a narrow opening that is just large enough for the monkey to slip its hand in. Once the monkey puts its hand in and grabs hold of its object of desire (the banana), the hand holding the banana cannot come out of the jar’s narrow opening.
Because the monkey is so attached to the banana, it refuses to let go of it. So it is stuck there with its hand in the heavy jar. The monkey is now trapped. It is now imprisoned!
The irony of it all, of course, is that the monkey is free to go any time. As soon as it recognizes the mechanism of its bondage and lets go of the banana, it can pull its hand out and regain freedom and safety.
But it can be so hard to let go sometimes!
As humans, we also struggle with letting go, even when we know that holding on to something could only cause stress and suffering. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our misery that we forget the simple fact that we can let go any time. Whether it is holding on to a grudge, an unmet expectation, self-judgment, worry, or past glory, it’s completely up to us to let it go. Any time.
If we refuse to let go, we are trapping ourselves in a prison of our own making. As soon as we let go, we are free. If we choose to hold on to our suffering, that’s a choice that we are making ourselves.
So, what choice will you make in this moment?
Mindfulness FAQ 