Letting go is not easy for me.

I am a reformed control freak. This stems from early childhood and the realisation that I had to manage everything if I wanted to get the outcomes I wanted. Most of the time it worked.

The Warrior Queen persona fitted me well. I used to say not God, the Pope, the Queen, or anybody else could stand up to me.

Ha!! The Universe had other plans for me.

I have seen my life fall apart, crash, and burn several times.

Each time I would dust myself off, pick up the pieces, and press on.

In the process, though, I learned some invaluable life lessons.

Those of you who have followed my story probably know of my health adventures. Three breast cancer adventures; heart failure adventure, auto immune disease. I call them adventures because like all good adventures they involve overcoming unforeseen obstacles; wonderful surprises; and learning a lot about your strength and courage in the process. And of course, there is the exhilaration and deep satisfaction when you emerge on the other side.

I have not shared before some of the rest of my story. I will give you a glimpse now.

I have also walked away from my dream house; two failed marriages; and financial collapse.

I have faced two armed robberies.

Bruised but not broken, these are some of the lessons I learned along the way:

• I have more strength and courage than I realised
• To overcome fear, you have to turn and face it.
• Sometimes I just have to accept help.
• When I fight, I drown. When I float, I survive. What that actually means is that when I let go of trying to control and instead accept the situation, do what I can and keep my mind positive, life is so much easier, calmer, gentler.

Learning to let go has been – and continues to be – the major lesson of my life. It hasn’t been easy. But I’m getting there. Morphing gradually into the Wise Old Woman version of the Warrior Queen.

My purpose in this stage of my life is to share what I’ve learned, in the hope of helping at least one person live with more ease, grace, and joy.

This is why my first workshop in five years is going to be The Art of Letting Go

For more information check the Think It Talk It Facebook and Instagram pages or email me at cheryl@thinkittalkit.com