Word of the Day: Release
Recently I was speaking with a friend who expressed feeling anxiety around releasing a piece of music.
Despite being a lifelong musician, I don’t recall having consciously explored the true meaning of release and the connection between an emotional release and a creative release.
This prompted me to research the etymology of the word release and share what I have learned. I feel peace in the wisdom of the word. I hope you will too.
release (verb) :
allow or enable to escape confinement; set free
allow something to move, act, or flow freely
The root of release is the Latin word relaxare meaning “stretch out again, slacken.” In English the root is relax which is a way to say “become less tense.”
The word release comes up often in healing therapies and conversations.
For example, perhaps you have heard affirmations like :
“I release what no longer serves me.”
Learning more about the true meaning of release grounds the wisdom of this word in truth.
I often witness humans approaching the word release as a purge. When we perceive an experience or emotion as uncomfortable there is an urge to rid ourselves of this experience. The fight or flight instinct kicks in.
In truth, release means to relax. I imagine a tight rope, at full tension, starting to slacken. There is spaciousness and freedom in this new state.
If you wish to release physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual tension, remember the true meaning of release.
Can you invite relaxation in the place where tension is experienced? Can you stretch out and slacken before reacting from fight or flight?
Going back to the example of the affirmation "I release what no longer serves me,” what this really means is to relax where there is tension.
Stretch out. Take space when needed. Relax and rest.
