Did You Know?
A lot of us have heavy bags to carry. These bags are not tangible. They represent the past pain. They contain old grudges. Some bags we carry for years. Hence, it kills your spirit. It makes you sad. Also, it keeps you stuck in the past. You have the option to stop carrying the bags. You can learn to let it go. This creates incredible freedom. This creates real peace.
What Does it Mean to “Let Go”?
Letting go is a powerful act. It means to unhold. You unhold events from the past. You let go of the control. And, it is not forgetting. It is not forgiving an offense. Also, it is about freeing yourself. You choose not to hold on to it. You choose to stop fighting the past. So, this returns energy to you. This returns your peace.
Letting go means to accept what is. It means not to wish for a different past. It is a mindful decision to change. You stop living in “what ifs.” You start living in “what is.” It is a journey that is sometimes hard but rewarding. It can be an enormous relief. For this reason, it is a key to happiness.
Read more: 10 Ways the Ego Keeps you Stuck
The Strong Price of Clinging
Clinging to the past has a price. It sucks the life out of you. It affects your health. Also, you lug around hurt. You bear stress. However, stress is a part of life, but it will hurt you. It can physically harm you. Or, it can give you headaches. Also, it can hurt your sleep. It can weaken your immune system.
In addition, clinging keeps things away. Your hands are busy grabbing onto the old junk. So, you can not grab onto new chances. You can not grab onto new relationships. Also, you can not be present with any true integrity. Your mind is stuck in the past. You are not even in the present. You miss the present. And, you miss a brighter future. It keeps you stuck in pain.
The Mind’s Tricks: A Psychological Perspective
Our brains are geared toward survival and remember past pain to help us avoid experiencing it again. This is good for our survival instinct, but can sometimes lead us to go too far and recreate the pain of the past by repeatedly running through the scenario. That is called rumination; it can keep an individual stuck in a loop in which they have a chronic stress response.
With this repeated stress, we will begin to cause damage to the brain, actually shrinking parts of the brain. So, letting go is extremely important in that you can re-train your brain, break the cycle of rumination, focus on the present, develop new thought processes, new neural pathways, and healing for your brain and mental resilience, and improved emotional intelligence.
Read more: The 8 Psychological Shadows You Must Face
The Power of Forgiveness: A Psychological Perspective
Forgiveness is an essential component of letting go. It does not mean condoning a bad action. It does not mean forgetting the hurt. Rather, it is a gift that you are giving yourself. It is a conscious decision. You are releasing the person who has caused you harm. You are releasing what they have on your mind. Your energy is freed, your emotions are released.
The psychological literature, including a 2024 meta-analysis in Psychological Bulletin, suggests that forgiveness is associated with lower depression, anxiety, and stress, and psychological wellbeing and better physical health. This is because it reduces rumination. It reduces continual anger. Also, forgiveness brings peacefulness. It facilitates your healing. Even, it allows you to move on.
Islamic Perspective: The Benefits of Letting Go
Islam teaches the importance of letting go. Islam teaches the importance of forgiveness. The best example of this is with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). When he took over Makkah, he did not extract revenge. He let go of those who had wronged him. It was amazing that he could forgive those who had wronged him. His mercy revealed great strength.
The Quran also tells us to forgive. It says: “
…And let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like it if Allah should forgive you
” (Surah An-Nur, 24:22).
This strong verse is supportive. It encourages you to forgive others. It reminds you of Allah’s forgiveness. A true believer does not stay angry but lets it go and forgets. It brings peace to you. It makes you a better person.
Steps to Release Your Burden
Letting go is a process. It takes time. Here are a few things you can try:
- Acknowledge the pain: First, accept that you are hurt. Do not deny your feelings.
- Practice Mindfulness: Try to be small in the moment. Do not think about what happened in the past.
- Write it down: Write a letter to your pain. You do not have to send it. This will help you work it out of your system.
- Practice Forgiveness: Forgive the person who hurt you. Forgive yourself. Forgiveness is a powerful choice.
- Focus on Gratitude: Find things to be grateful for today. This will change your focus.
- Get Support: Talk to your friend. Try a therapist. Get help if you need it.
- Focus on the future: Plan for tomorrow. Live for today. Do not dwell on yesterday.
The Gift of Freedom: The Last Word
Letting go is not easy. It can sometimes feel frightening. But it is even worse to be stuck, weighed down by the burden, in a never-ending state of feeling bad. To live with a weight that is meant to be carried forever is NOT a life we should live. Letting go is the alternative. Hence, you must choose to put down the burdens. Choose to free your mind. Choose to heal your heart. The past is a lesson. It is not a life sentence.
So, letting go is a gift, a gift we receive ourselves. It gives us the gifts of peace, joy, and destination – a place to live. So, take that first step – release the pain – welcome your new future.
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