Do you ever feel like something is holding you back from actually getting on with life? Something gnawing away at the back of your mind or in your heart that just won’t let you go? Something or someone holding you back from happiness?
Most of us at some time in our life need to go through the process of letting go. It might be letting go of a loved one who has passed away, letting go of a toxic relationship or letting go of the negativity in our life.
We all have dreams and want to move forward with our lives but until we fully let go of what is holding us back, we will stay in the same place.
Sometimes letting go can be painful or requires change and that is why we resist it. Perhaps we feel guilty ‘letting go’ of a loved one who has died, because we fear with time our memories of them will fade, or we don’t want to face the finality. Perhaps we are harbouring resentment and bitterness which is twisting us up inside and preventing us from being happy.
We fear the future or change and so reluctantly hold on to something which is not healthy for our mental and spiritual health.
We have been taught not to give up but sometimes we need to walk away from unhealthy relationships no matter how hard it may be.
Until we accept what is holding us back and make the decision to ‘let go’ we will never move forward.
6 Reasons to Let Go, Accept & Move Forward
1. Improved mental state
Once you let go you immediately feel a load has been lifted and you feel lighter. The cloud hanging over you has gone.
2. Positivity
Letting go and accepting paves the way for a positive future with new possibilities
3. You deserve to be happy
You will never be happy if you are holding resentment, or trying to hold onto something that is no longer there. You deserve happiness in life and ‘letting go’ is the start to a new and exciting future.
4. No Regrets
Research has shown that living without regrets may be a key to healthy aging http://www.livescience.com/19788-regrets-healthy-aging.html
5. Less stress and anxiety
When you let go and accept you feel less stressed and anxious. Your blood pressure lowers and your immune system improves.
6. Improved self-esteem
You have made a decision and can now move forward in your life. You had the courage to take that decision even though it may have been frightening or painful.
“Do you have something that you really need to let go of in order to have a healthier and happier life?”
Here is a post I found on tinybuddha.com suggesting 40 Ways to let go and feel less pain
As Queen Elsa in the movie Frozen sings: Let it Go! In the movie, Elsa realizes that she doesn’t need to hide her abilities and declares herself free of all restrictions she has put up with since childhood. She celebrates being able to use her power and to let go of her past. https://youtu.be/L0MK7qz13bU
What is one thing that you can let go of today?
Join me tomorrow for ‘M’ is for Motivation – How to keep motivated when you just want to stay under the covers.
Let’s Keep Sizzling!
See where I link up to each week….
37 Comments
Letting go. Good suggestion. But I’m not really sure what I may need to let go of. I’m pretty happy with who I am and in what direction I am heading. It’s not so much letting go for me, but getting started on tasks I know I need to get started on.
Hi Jeffrey, hopefully my ‘M’ is for Motivation might help you get started. It is great though that you don’t have anything holding you back I’m sure you will do what you set out to do it is just a matter of starting. Have a great day!
I’ve learned a lot about letting go over the last few years. If we hold on to things too tightly they end up causing us pain. I needed to face life with my arms open and let our children go when they become adults, let bad friendships go, let boring jobs go, let perfectionism go…… my list could go on all day, but I’m getting there! Great post Sue. Leanne @ cresting the hill
Letting go is really a powerful way to move ahead. Past wounds, hurts, biases, fears are some things that hold us back. We need to break these shackles and let go of them. Beautiful post!
@KalaRavi16 from
Relax-N-Rave
So many great tips in how to achieve the letting go process here Sue. I also focus on #2, thinking positive thoughts especially during difficult times. I know in my own life it has been difficult to let go of some things, but once we work through the process, freedom takes hold. Today the one thing I would say I have to let go of, is SUGAR! I know laugh, but I’m on a personal quest to cut it out of my diet, or at least cut back much of it. You know the baked goods we see all over blog land! So far this has been my first week without a cookie, cake or other refined junk I shouldn’t be eating.
what an awesome A-Z series Sue!
Letting go is for sure a step towards positivety and self happiness
Loved the post ☺
PositiveVibes ✌
L for Love ❤
http://smartshivani.blogspot.com/2016/04/l-for-love.html
Oh I’m so pleased you enjoyed the post. Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely day 🙂
Thanks. I needed this.
Stu
Personal Bloggers
A to Z
http://www.stuartnager.wordpress.com
Oh I’m so pleased my post was helpful Stuart. Have a lovely day 🙂
Great reminders, Sue! I particularly love that one that says ‘Letting go is about accepting that there are things that cannot be”. A lot of the times people think letting go is a sign of being defeated. But actually, as you pointed out, it’s an opening up to new possibilities and having the wisdom to recognize what no longer works for us or our growth. Have a great rest of the week, and thank you for this wisdom-filled post! #pbaus
Hi Joy! Yes sometimes accepting that something is not meant to be can be so difficult but there is a world of opportunities awaiting us if we just take that step. Thank you for stopping by you have a wonderful week and hope to talk again soon.
Oh thank you Gigi! Great feedback and I’m glad you are enjoying the series.
Who would guess that ‘L’ could be so inspiring? I love your quotes in the post, so true, as is your observations on letting go.
Oh thanks Kathleen. This challenge has certainly expanded my thought patterns that is for sure. Have a lovely weekend and thanks for stopping by 🙂
Hi Sue – stumbled and pinned this today xx
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Sue!
I think I’d do good to let go of my fears!
You’re right. Acceptance is the first step in letting go of things harmful to us. Especially toxic relationships.
I really loved the first two picture quotes you picked for this topic.
– Chicky @ http://www.mysteriouskaddu.com
It isn’t always easy Chicky but the benefits are great if we can overcome our fears. Have a lovely day and thanks for stopping by.
This is such a great reminder, Sue. Letting go is sometimes so hard, but sometimes it is just something we must do. I am really enjoying your A to Z challenge, Sue, such great topics! 🙂
Thank you Wendy your word means a lot to me and I’ve really found the challenge has extended me. I didn’t think I had it in me really but I’ve proven myself wrong. 🙂
Hi Sue, Just wanted you to know this post will be featured with a shout out on my party this week – Party at My Place as it was MOST VIEWED from last week.
Oh Wow! Thanks Michelle what a lovely surprise. I’ve been a bit irregular visiting the party but after my break I will hopefully feel more energised and organised. Thank you so much again and also for the I Am Woman series.
Letting go is such a healing process, Sue. It really shows you what’s really important in life. Thanks for sharing at the Over the Moon Link Party.
Thanks Sandy! Yes letting go is not easy but a weight is certainly lifted when we do go through the process.
Letting go is difficult, but is the only way for us to move forward.
Thanks for stopping by Corinne. Letting go is not easy at all but once we try we certainly feel lighter and ready to take on something new.
I love the song Let It Go! Have you heard Pentatonix sing it? Or seen Idina Menzel sing it with classroom instruments on the Jimmy Fallon Show? Its great! I love the quotes in this post Sue.
I haven’t seen either version of Let it Go so should check them out. I love a good quote!
I let go of a toxic friendship last year. Will always miss the person but gosh I feel better. It had to happen.
I agree it is hard Suzi and sometime we feel guilty but if the person is not ‘good’ for us we just have to take the step and remove them from our lives. So glad that you feel better and that you accept it had to happen. Have a great day!
Love both the quotes…it’s hard to let go sometimes I think because we are scared of the change that might occur. Good or bad, change is difficult for a lot of people!
Change is so difficult Sanch but once we bite the bullet and make changes we feel a weight lifted from our shoulders.
Another wonderful post!! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Thanks for your encouraging words, Debbie and for stopping by to comment. Have a beautiful day x
A few years ago my 93 year old mom dis-owned me. I learned from my younger sister, that my older siblings may have had something to do with it, but when I tried to talk to my mom about it, she refused to tell me the truth about why she had done it. I felt crushed and betrayed by a family who I thought loved me. It took awhile to let all this go. I finally realized that there was nothing wrong with me, and that I couldn’t control the behaviors of others. With my husbands support I was able to get through it, and not hang on to bitterness or resentment. Thanks for an enlightening post, Sue
What a difficult time for you Christina and I can certainly feel your hurt. These feelings would not be easy to overcome but how wonderful that your husband has been such a support which you needed. It is so hard to let go of the bitterness and resentment but once you do, you feel so much lighter and can move forward with life. Life isn’t always fair, but it all comes down to how we can handle the hurt and disappointment. I’m sending you my love and hugs and have a beautiful week. x