Let Go of the Past:
Do You Have the Courage to Be Free?
Let go of the past — wow! That’s a pretty loaded statement; one of those statements that is so much easier said than done. And one that’s so easy for people to condescendingly lay on you when you are struggling.
And yet, that’s exactly what I’m going to challenge you to do today. Why? Because I want you to live the fulfilling life you were meant to live, and you cannot do that if you don’t let go of the past.
I’m going to share 3 things I did to let go of the past when I was going through the hardest period of my life to date, but first, take a moment to think about what it is that you need to let go of.
What eats at you every time you think about it? What pops in your head to hold you back every time you are about to try something new? What makes you sabotage your relationships? What causes you to stay hidden rather than let your greatness be seen?
It could be a relationship. It could be a job opportunity or any other lost opportunity. It could be the picture you have in your head of the way your life is “supposed” to be. It could be something someone whispered behind your back in 5th grade. It could be what you see when you look in the mirror.
Got it? Alright, let’s move on then ?
Keep scrolling to find 3 things I did to let go of the past.
How I Let Go of the Past
And Set Myself Free to Move Forward
The hardest period of my life that I referred to was a six month period of time when my ex-husband, Matt, and I separated. Of course, it took longer than six months to fully recover (actually, I’m pretty sure I’ll never fully recover), but that six month period of time was the most difficult to get through.
Here are a few things that helped me let go of my 19-year romantic relationship with Matt:
- Grieve – You are losing whatever you are letting go of. It’s okay and necessary to grieve it. That grief is going to look different depending on what you’re letting go of, and, of course, the grieving process will be different for everyone. But, do not repress or numb your feelings! Do not cover them up by self-medicating, seeking sexual comfort, or engaging in any other harmful behaviors. You have to feel every ounce of your pain. Now, you might have to cover up your feelings to get through the day and do what needs to be done, but you need to give yourself time, at some point in the day, to break down and sit with your grief.
- Forgive – Forgiving someone, including yourself, does not mean that you’re okay with whatever happened. It just means that you are not going to let what happened control your life. You are taking ownership of the situation and saying, “I forgive you, and I am moving on.” You do this for yourself. Not for anyone else! Because as long as you are holding onto resentment, you are letting someone, or something, control your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
- Accept – Now, after you’ve grieved and forgiven, you’re ready to accept life as it is. Once you accept life as it is, you can move forward and create a life that’s so much better than you could have ever imagined. You have a choice, and only you can make it. Do I want to be bitter? Or do I want to be better? Do I want to let the past control me? Or do I want to set myself free to live the fulfilling life I was meant to live?
If you’d like to learn more about my story, read: Confessions of a Safety-Holic (Now in Remission)
Or, How to Stop Being Codependent: My Personal Journey
If you need to let go of who you think you “should” be, read: The Simplest Way to Conquer Your Greatest Enemy
Click here for more posts with a “vulnerability” theme.
If you’re ready to Stop Settling & Start Living! check out our home page to learn more about what The Expectation Gaps has to offer.
And until next time . . . have a FREEING day!
Want to Name Your Core Values?
Not Sure Where to Start?
I would love to help you!
All you need to do is answer 5 questions, and I’ll let you know what I think your values are. We’ll communicate with each other until we get it right!
How does that sound? Don’t overthink it; just do it. What do you have to lose?
Click here to get started!
Links
PIN IT!
HOW THE EXPECTATION GAPS WORKS
YOU'RE HERE
You’re Fed Up With Mediocrity & Want to Make an Impact
You’re frustrated…overwhelmed…”crazy busy”…burned out…unfulfilled…
I'VE BEEN THERE!
I’ve been focused on becoming a Deliberate Thinker for ~10 years.
I want to help you with your journey by sharing mine.
PIN IT!