“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.”
— C. S. Lewis · 1898 – 1963Source: no specific work is documented · Check the source
MisattributedWhat we know
- What is documented
- Available evidence finds no occurrence of this wording in Lewis’s published work; a close variant appears in Chicken Soup for the Soul credited to "Author Unknown."
- What remains uncertain
- The attribution to C. S. Lewis is unreliable: the ‘‘monkey bars’’ phrasing likely postdates Lewis and the true origin remains unestablished.
Understanding the quote
The image makes recovery feel tangible: progress sometimes demands letting go before you can move on. It’s a modern motivational analogy, widely shared online — but no primary source ties these exact words to C. S. Lewis.
The story behind it
Surprisingly, the earliest traces in popular sources list the line as "Author Unknown" (e.g. a Chicken Soup for the Soul edition) before it became linked to Lewis.
Going further
- The era
- In the mid-20th century, when Lewis wrote, the specific phrase “monkey bars” was uncommon; the saying likely emerged later.
- The thinking
- Not a formal philosophy — it’s straightforward advice: to change or heal you must release what holds you, accept risk, and reach for the next step.
- Key word
- Release: letting go of a hold or belief so you can move forward.
- Who quoted it
- The line appears across quote sites and social media; Christianity Today lists it among commonly misattributed Lewis lines.
Three challenges to live it
In the app, you pick the one that fits your day, and in the evening you say how it went.
Sit for 5 minutes, close your eyes and picture the 'monkey bars' you're on; with each exhale, let go of one anxious thought or fear.
The quote uses the monkey‑bars image to show healing requires letting go. A brief guided pause lets you practice that letting go physically and mentally.
Write a 300‑word letter to the part of you that still hurts; say what you are ready to let go of, then crumple or delete the letter.
The monkey‑bars image asks for a concrete let‑go. Writing and destroying the letter makes the symbolic release tangible and supports forward movement.
If possible, go to monkey bars or a railing and cross a short section; if not, do 2 minutes of swinging your arms overhead, releasing tension with each swing.
The quote is built on a physical apparatus: mimicking the motion engages the body in letting go and turns metaphor into embodied practice.
How could you let go of something that’s keeping you stuck?
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