Do Something About It, Or Let It Go!

There is a beautiful wisdom saying… “The hardest decisions we will ever have to make in our lives is whether to stay, or to go.”

I recently launched an online business. This great adventure gave me the opportunity to explore various ways of advertising my products online. One of the ways that was presented to me was through Google. Google will gladly advertise and promote your products online, so long as you comply with their merchant policies.

Shortly after signing up for Google to advertise and promote my products online, I was informed by Google that my merchant account had been suspended because my products did not comply with their policies. I was informed that my website was misrepresenting my products, but I was not provided with any further detail as to what this misrepresentation was. Therefore, I had no idea how to correct the problem, even if I could.

I spent a few days trying to communicate with Google about the issue, asking for clarification about my account’s suspension. But Google did not respond to any of my communication.

So…I was left with a choice: (a) do I do something about this, and take on Google? or (b) do I let this go?

A part of me wanted to take on Google. A part of me was offended at the suggestion (or accusation) that I was misrepresenting my products. I take great pride in the products I sell and I took great care in how the products were described and presented on my website. For someone to suggest I was misrepresenting my products really took me by surprise. And I was frustrated that Google had made a decision to suspend my account without any warning and/or suggestions on how to make any necessary changes in order to comply.

After a few days, I asked myself… “What is really important here? What do I want out of all this?” Surely, it wasn’t to prove Google wrong and have them reverse their decision. What was really important to me in this situation, as it is in any situation that involves my perception of conflict, was to have peace.

Could I have peace by taking on Google and having them reverse their decision? I decided that wasn’t where my peace was. Therefore, I chose to walk away.

The key in walking away from any situation is whether or not to truly let it go. Walking away from something but continuing to gripe and grovel about the issue, is not letting it go. Letting go involves surrender and forgiveness. Any situation we choose to walk away from gifts us with an opportunity for practicing surrender and forgiveness.

I will likely be tested in my surrender and forgiveness regarding this situation. In my experience, it will likely be an unfolding process; one that I can embrace for the purposes of practice, and draw upon the strength I build from the experience to apply to the next situation that will require my surrender and forgiveness. For letting go is simply a process of surrender and forgiveness. And the process is simple a matter of choice. Do I stay? Or do I go?

Robert Meagher has been ordained as an Interfaith Minister and certified as a Sacred Attention Therapy (SAT) Therapist. Robert is the Founder and Spiritual Director for Spiritual Guidance and Co-Founder of the Center for Human Awakening.