How To Let Go Of The Past
As challenging as it can be, letting go of the past offers us the opportunity to strengthen our resilience, and move towards a happier, more aligned life experience.
When it comes to how to let go of the past, many people wonder, ‘How do you mentally let go?’, or ‘How do you accept the past?’. In this blog we’ll take a look at what letting go looks like, why it’s powerful for our mental health, and how acceptance of our past is a vital factor in helping us move forwards.
What Does Letting Go Truly Mean?
Many people assume that letting go and moving on means forgetting, or ignoring the emotional pain you’re experiencing. But by acknowledging our pain, we begin to free ourselves from its hold upon us. Holding onto these painful feelings can impact our daily life, and even have an effect on our mental health.
The Power of Letting Go
Letting go can be a powerful way to free ourselves from emotional burdens, and open the door to self discovery. In his book, ‘Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender’, Dr David Hawkins says that "Letting go is one of the most efficacious tools by which to reach spiritual goals." His work focuses on human suffering, and the most effective ways to relieve this. Dr Hawkins offers insight into ways to release emotional hurt and trauma, and move towards a more fulfilling life.
When we choose to surrender to what is, instead of battling with the thoughts and emotions we find ourselves experiencing, our past pain will have less of an impact in the present moment. This frees up headspace, teaches us forgiveness and compassion, and offers freedom from negative thoughts.
The Challenge of Letting Go
For all its transformational benefits, letting go can also be a painful experience. Letting go of the past can bring up all sorts of negative emotional trauma, and moving on can feel daunting. Human psychology says that, instinctively, we want to keep ourselves safe. So when it comes to freeing ourselves from things that are no longer serving us, this can be emotionally tricky to navigate. Often, we keep ourselves in familiar patterns, holding on to things that keep us feeling safe, but also stuck. Freeing ourselves from these emotional attachments will take time and patience.
Letting Go of Loved Ones
Sometimes we need to make decisions that will ultimately be the best for our own life experience. This might sometimes mean letting go of friends and family, a romantic relationship, or another person you love. When it comes to how to let someone go, it’s important to look at the situation objectively. As much as you may wish the situation was different, it might be that the time has come for you to honour your own boundaries, and prioritise creating space for healthy relationships in your life. If you’re faced with this challenge and wondering how to let go of someone that you love, or even a family member, know that it’s possible to be objective when it comes to our own personal boundaries. We can cherish the memories of the past, but understand that in the long term, honouring our own needs will serve us better.
Techniques to Mentally Let Go
It can feel hard to know where to begin when it comes to how to move on from the past. If you’re looking for support with how to let go, here are some techniques to help you release past pain:
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness helps us focus on the present, and be less influenced by our past. You can practice mindfulness through taking a moment during your day to just be, using meditation to focus, or by slowing down and living intentionally.
Reframing Negative Thoughts
Our thought patterns can keep us stuck in old ways of being, so try challenging your usual emotional responses by reframing negative thoughts. You can learn more about this through self-help resources such as books and podcasts, or via social media. Using things like affirmations can also help to shift your mindset.
Seek Support
When it comes to how to let things go, you don’t have to navigate this process alone. Turn to friends and family for support, or seek out a professional who can gently guide you on this journey.
Focus on Personal Growth
Every experience we face offers us the opportunity to discover more about ourselves. Allow this experience to help you to focus on your own personal growth and future.
Accepting and Making Peace with the Past
The best way to make peace with your past is through acceptance of what has occurred. This doesn’t mean condoning past mistakes and hurt, but instead acknowledging what happened, and making peace with it. This process will look different for everyone and won’t always feel easy, but will mean that you can begin to live in the present and focus on now, instead of being controlled by the past.
Moving On: From Letting Go to Growth
The process of letting go will free up space in your life for fresh growth and new opportunities. This time offers you the chance to seek new meaning, get to know yourself on a deeper level, and become intentional about moving forwards with your life. There is so much to learn from your past experiences, which will help you to move forwards and onto brighter things.
Key Takeaways
It’s clear that when we are holding onto things that are no longer serving us, we struggle to have the headspace needed for personal and mental growth. Whilst letting go can feel painful and challenging, it will free us from the things keeping us feeling stuck, and open up possibilities we may never have imagined. If there’s past hurt and trauma, or a situation that you need to let go of, take time to apply some of the techniques mentioned, which will help support you in this process.
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If you’re ready to explore the process of letting go on a deeper level, spiritual therapy will help you to receive insights from a higher perspective. Get in touch today to discover how spiritual therapy can help support you on this journey towards letting go and honouring the whole of you.