Letting go is often thought of as a negative, painful experience, but it doesn’t have to be. When you view letting go as a way to make space for growth, for what your future can be, instead of feeling like you have to relinquish the past, it can actually invoke a feeling of joy.
There are many times in our lives when we are faced with letting go: becoming a mama, changing jobs, moving, the death of a loved one, shifts in relationships with friends. All of these experiences can be difficult and cause us to identify ourselves in new ways. Going through these experiences does not mean that we let go of our old identity, the stresses of our old job, our connection to an old home, a loved one, or a friend. These linger with us, and sometimes the energy that they drain from us keeps us from moving forward in our lives.
It’s been over 15 years since I was in that place that I preserved through emails, letters, and journal entries. I’ve long been gone from there, but part of me had never left. By making the decision to physically break a tie that bound me to a big part of my past, I was able to actually let go. When I’d thought about getting rid of those papers in the past, it felt like I couldn’t do that, like I had to hold onto them. I can’t even pinpoint why, but perhaps it was so I had them as proof of what I’d made it through. Living my life how I want to live it is proof enough for me now, and releasing the reminder of pain made the letting go painless.
Letting go does not mean forgetting. It doesn’t mean never looking back. It doesn’t mean that these experiences become less of who you are. Letting go releases you from being controlled by the past and instead offers you space to grow into the person you want to be in the future.
Perhaps you will choose to create your own letting go ritual. Maybe it will be as often as every full moon, or maybe you will save it for big life changes or just when it feels right. Guide yourself to what helps you to let go so that you can be open to whatever your life brings you next, ready and waiting with joy in your heart.
Peace, Love, and Wellness,
Xandra
