29. unsubscribe

Since beginning this project of stepping back from social media, committing to daily writing, and generally cleaning up my digital consumption habits, I’ve also been ruthlessly unsubscribing from email marketing campaigns. 

Pretty much, if it came from a mailing list, I hit the unsubscribe button swiftly, then feel smug and relieved in my disciplined approach to quieting my thought space. 

I sat down to write today and noticed that one person unsubscribed to my daily letters. Then I spent nearly ten minutes trying to figure out who it was, and why, as if I would be able to discern what it was that I did that made them want to leave (hello, inner perfectionist). 

What’s funny is that I was talking with a dear friend today about simply choosing to leave any spaces that are taking up mental space, time, or energy, so I have more heart, mind, body and soul available for the tasks, projects, practices and people that are sacred to me. 

I was feeling unapologetic for stepping away from all distractions from my own here-and-now experience.

So really, I should be celebrating this person, who for whatever reason decided to opt-out of tuning into my daily headspace, because good for them, and me too; we are choosing what’s best for us. 

We could go deep on why I do this - why, if fifty people are celebrating and supporting my art, why would I care about one who decides it's not for them?

Whether it's an innate human trait or harmful conditioning, what's 'going wrong' often seems to get my attention more than what's going right. 

But I'm not really thinking about the one person who said "no, thanks" (I mean I did for about 7 minutes but then I moved on, and here we are.)

No, instead of thinking about what I 'did wrong', I am thinking about the power of the decision to unsubscribe. To just say ‘no thanks’ and let go of the thing that’s not working for your heart, mind, body, or soul.

Unsubscribe.

What if we could unsubscribe from thought patterns or behaviors the same way we do emails? 

What if I noticed myself focusing on perceived rejection and said, “Hmm, nah. Unsubscribe. This doesn’t feel good in my heart.”

And just let it go. 

What if I felt myself spinning a story that’s not true about how I’m received or valued and said, “Eh, no. Unsubscribe. That doesn’t feel true in my mind.”

And just let it go.

What if I observed how coffee (confession - back on the caffeine a bit) almost always leads to a headache later in the day and just said, “Ah, how about that? Unsubscribe. This doesn’t feel good in my body.”

And just let it go. 

What if I sensed myself contracted in fear, focusing on the negative and said, “Oh my love. We don’t need this. Unsubscribe. It doesn’t feel good in our soul.”

And just - 

Let. it. go.

I am unsubscribing from the belief that other people’s actions are about me. 

I am unsubscribing from the concern over how I am received. 

I am unsubscribing from attachment to the outcome of this project. 

I am unsubscribing from doubting the voice of spirit guiding me. 

I am unsubscribing from measuring my worth in analytics. 

I am unsubscribing from the pursuit of popularity. 

I am unsubscribing from censoring my art. 

I am unsubscribing from shrinking in my gifts and calling.

I am unsubscribing from fear about the future. 

I am unsubscribing from being in control. 

I am unsubscribing from obsession over outcomes. 

I am unsubscribing from believing I can do it wrong. 

Unsubscribe. Click. Let it go.