I’ve been listening to a bit of Tara Brach lately and she has a great video about how to stop the war against ourselves.
She speaks about how when we’re suffering, it’s because we’re holding on too tight and need to let go.
If you let go a little you’ll find a little peace.
If you let go a lot, you’ll find a lot of peace.
If you let go completely, you’ll be able to live your life fully.
This could be letting go of anything; a person, relationship, attitude, belief, way of thinking or situation.
You’ll be burdened by the weight of holding on to something so tightly it causes you pain; if you can surrender and let go, there’s no weight anymore.
By holding on to the regrets of the past, we aren’t living in the present.
By wishing our future could be different, we will never truly find our happy in the now.
So how do we let go?
FORGIVE
For me, forgiveness has been the best tool I’ve used to release the past.
You can download my forgiveness freebies here.
If you imagine that you’re lugging around a heavy bag of rocks (all the worry, regrets and resentments from the past) that keeps bogging you down, forgiveness is a great way to start chucking out those rocks.
By releasing the past it’ll free up your energy to stay grounded in the present.
GRATITUDE
Another way to let go of the past is to focus on what you’re grateful for not only in the present, but also all the learnings and growth you can take from the challenges you faced in the past.
Know that each and every one has brought you to where you are today, and that right here and now, you have the power to choose how to shape your life.
That’s something to be grateful for.
LOVE YOURSELF
Having self-love will allow you to also face compassion for where you’re at right now, as well as compassion for others.
Love yourself enough to know that you did the best with what you had at the time.
Love yourself enough to allow yourself to let go of your pain and move forward.
Love yourself enough to allow more love into your life.
FILL UP YOUR OWN CUP
Holding on tightly to the past can often be about our unmet needs – for validation, approval, knowing we’re good enough etc.
Find a way to meet your own needs, so that you don’t need someone else to do this for you.
This is also an act of self-love.
Know that you’re enough, and you are loved.
FOCUS ON THE PRESENT MOMENT
If you experience a beautiful moment, allow yourself to fully enjoy it and know that it’s here for a short time; be ok with that, so you’re free to enjoy the next beautiful moment rather than wishing it didn’t end.
COMMIT TO HEALING WORK
Try out the forgiveness work as well as other techniques; counselling, EFT, energy work, Kinesiology, meditation, therapy, exercise, mindfulness, massage… whatever you try, try something.
Stay open minded and know that if something doesn’t work for you it’s not the end of the world, there will be something out there that does.
The only catch there is that you have to also be part of that healing journey, rather than expecting someone else to “fix” you.
Letting go isn’t always easy, and it can take time.
Just go easy on yourself, show yourself love and compassion, and take baby steps with it.
Just do a little bit each day to keep moving forward.
You know where I am if you need a hand/ear/friend/hug.
Catcha on the flip side,
