“Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.”
~Ann Landers
Life is all about choices –the choices you make at different points in your life. And the road you choose to travel on could help you go forward and touch the stars or it could hold you down and pin you to the ground. The first option is a step in the direction of growth, the second leads to stagnation if not to regression.
Life is a constantly evolving phenomenon. In order to grow you need to keep pace with life and evolve at the same time. Moving forward and allowing the elements of growth to enter your life means you need to empty your life of what it is currently holding, you need to let go of what is, to make way for what will be: in other words, letting the past slip out of your life so that there is place for the present.
Letting go does not mean that you forget or that you have stopped caring; it just means you have accepted what was and you are now altering yourself and adjusting to the changed situation in your life.
Happiness from letting go
Happiness comes from letting go, not in holding on to what should be set free. Mother birds push their young ones out of their nests at a very tender age. The mother lets go of the child to enable him to grow and fly on his own; the child learns to let go the protection of the mother in order to develop.
Sensible humans also do the same thing – allow their children to leave the security and shelter of the parental abode so that they learn to live life on their own, as grownups. Whenever parents hang on to their children and pamper and spoil them well into adulthood, the children do not learn to fend for themselves. Their emotional and mental development gets adversely affected as they believe they can always avail of the benefits of the parental roof. They do not try to grow into responsible beings.
Letting go of the past
Letting go of the past does not mean ignoring it totally. The past is important; it is what has brought you to where you are at present. You may have made mistakes then, you may have done everything right. Whatever it was, put it all down to experience – learn from your past mistakes, adopt the positives and then move forward, leaving the past in the past. You grow as a person only when you take a lesson from what has happened. Accept the present, the new –it is the path to self growth, for it helps you see the world through new eyes.
Learn to let go negative feelings of all kinds. Negativity poisons your system, from the inside. Do not let it. Throw it out like garbage and bring positive energy into your life. Let go anger and jealousy and hatred – these emotions stunt your emotional and spiritual growth. Your mind expands and grows when you allow it to understand and accept new things, when you learn tolerance and love and compassion.
Let go of your control
In the workplace, at home, learn to delegate. You cannot and should not control every aspect. Let go of your control and you will find yourself feeling lighter and ready to take on newer challenges that will help you develop new skills, new joys and new ways to lead an enriching life.
Let go your complaints and grievances. Constantly dwelling on your problems is not comfortable for you or for those around do. Apply yourself to finding a solution to your troubles; it will help you develop the ability to handle problems and tough situations.
Let go your fears for they only hold you back. Look fear in the face and cast it out of your life. Defeating your fears add stature to your personality.
Let go people who bring nothing but negativity into your life. They suck the energy out of your soul and push you back. In their place bring in those who add value to your life and help you grow and develop as a person.
“Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.” ~Sonia Ricotti
