We humans have the crippling tendency to live in the past instead of living in the present. We replay the mistakes made in the past in our heads and allow those feelings to control how we function today. We cling to the moments of the past and thus live the moments of constant frustration and worry and spoil the present. 

“If you want to fly, you have to let go of what weighs you down.” This quote beautifully explains how important it is to let go of all the things that keep you from being your best self in the present. Holding on to the worries, grudges, and tensions of the past keep us strangling between two different times. One foot is in the present and one is stuck in the past. Given this, it won’t be wrong to say that our brains are wired to hold on to the moments of the past. However, to function sanely in the present, one needs to let go of all the worries that are holding them back. 

It is essential to let go to grow but more than action, it is an ongoing process. It starts by being gentle with yourself. By being patient with self. 

Here are a few ways that will help you to let go to grow: 

Address and accept your issues

Instead of obsessing over what happened in the past, it is necessary to understand why one is feeling a certain way and still trapped in the memories of the past. Reflect on what is it from the past that keeps you from being your best self today. Identify them as something you want to let go of. Once you identify the issue make sure to address it. Analyze why you want to get rid of it and do the needful. After identifying and addressing the issue, accept those emotions like you do the happy moments in life. Acceptance of the painful feelings of the past denotes that does not have power over you. 

Vent all out

The major reason why one is unable to let go and move on is that the emotions are not expressed when they are supposed to be. One healthy way to let go of everything that is weighing you down is venting out and expressing. The emotions can be spoken aloud with a close person like a friend or a family member or can be journaled. Important is to get the feelings out. AS it is only while expressing that we truly understand what is keeping us from being happy in the present. 

Enable forward-thinking mindset

When one continues to hold on to the anxiety, pain, sufferings, and grief of the past without actually addressing them, all the experiences of the past keep accumulating and building up inside the heart. Thus making it even more difficult to let things go. Enabling a forward-thinking mindset is thus essential to help one get over the sufferings of the past. Adopting a forward-thinking mindset allows you to not dwell in the past and instead, put intentional energy into thinking of what the future holds for you. Thus, effectively helping one to get over the worries of the past.

Practice mindfulness

Thanks to the worries of the past, trying to think about the future can be a big pill to swallow. And so one can at least try to stay in the present. This is what we call practicing mindfulness. It is a proven practice to overcome the negatives of the past. Practicing mindfulness makes it easier to live the pleasures in life as they occur and creates a better capacity to deal with adverse events. It helps get past the worries of the past and allows you to be your best self today. 

Forgive and forget

We hold on to a lot of things that weigh us down. Sometimes the emotions are ill feelings about people around you or disappointment with yourself. However, in order to let go, it is very much essential to forgive others and yourself. Holding grudges only make matters worse for yourself and mean that a part of you is still in the past. If you want to let go and grow, you have to gather the strength and courage to accept an apology that you didn’t even receive.

It’s true that letting go is easier said than done, but the goal is to find yourself in a better place. And for that, it is important to instill this practice. So let go to grow.