There is one beautiful constant in life; and that constant is change. You are always changing. Your friends and family are always changing. The world around you is always changing. And there’s nothing we can do to stop that.
And so every once in a while when you take a look at your life, you’ll realize that some things just don’t seem to fit anymore. Maybe the lifestyle you’ve been living no longer brings you joy. Maybe the people you’ve known forever no longer align with your values. Maybe the relationship you’ve been in no longer feels right. Maybe the job you’ve had brings you more stress than excitement. Just because something was right for you in the past doesn’t mean it still is.
It happens slowly as you grow. As you discover more about who you are and what you want out of life, you’ll come to realize there are deliberate changes you’ll need to make (and things you’ll need to get rid of) to keep up with the changes happening around you and within you.
Of course you can always cherish all the memories, but if any of these scenarios sound familiar to you it’s time to let go and move on.
It can definitely feel hard and awkward separating yourself from the parts of your life that have become so familiar. You might find yourself trying to hold onto those parts for too long or feeling hesitant to let go. That is completely normal. I’ve been right there with you on more occasions than I can count. But when you hold onto things that no longer serve you, it can have a negative effect on your wellbeing and throw off your balance.
It’s definitely not something that is easily learned, but continuously practicing to let go will make room for more happiness in your life. Here are 5 ways you can begin exercising your ability to let go:
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CREATE AND REPEAT A POSITIVE MANTRA TO CHANNEL YOUR ENERGY TOWARDS THE POSITIVE FUTURE, NOT THE PAST.
How you talk to yourself can either move you forward or keep you stuck. Mantras are just words that are loaded with power and sounds capable of penetrating your body into deep levels of consciousness and can create a positive, friendly and a healing effect. Repetition is what’s key here. The more you say it, the more your mind will believe it!
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PRACTICE PRESENCE.
When you start to focus on being present and living in each moment, your hurts have less control over you, and you have more freedom to choose how you want to respond to what happens in your life. And when you live in the moment, you will start to realize that things will pass, which will make it much easier to let things go later down the line. To let go is to find the strength to embrace life’s changes, to trust your intuition, to learn as you go, to realize that every experience has value, and continue taking positive steps forward.
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JOURNAL!
Reflection and looking inward is a huge aspect of Ayurveda. Writing down what is on your mind (a.k.a. journaling) can help with reflection. Writing can be tremendously clearing and a great way to be present with your feelings. Even if the person you’re letting go of doesn’t read what you’re writing, sometimes it’s good to just get things out of your system!
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EXPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS.
Oftentimes the fear of feeling negative emotions causes you to avoid them. Most people are afraid of feeling grief, anger, disappointment, or sadness. And when they try to shut them out, they can disrupt the process of letting go. By letting yourself feel these emotions, you can let your mind and body fully process them, and once you’re ready they’ll float away. Just remember: this process can take time.
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PRACTICE SELF-CARE.
Practicing self-care will be something different for every person. But it can look like setting boundaries, saying no, doing the things that bring us joy and comfort, and listening to your own needs first.
What is holding you back in 2021? What expectations, habits, relationships, people, jobs, situations, and thoughts do you need to let go of to lead a free life and not feel stuck in the past? Remember that letting go means that there is an unexplored and exciting future that awaits us.
Want to learn more about Ayurveda and what other practices it holds that can help better your life? I invite you to take my Ayurveda 101 class, where you’ll decipher the doshas, the 5 elements, routines, Ayurvedic lifestyle, yoga practices, chakras, and dive deep into the relationship between Ayurveda and yoga. Click here to sign up.
