7 Ways You Can Let Go of the Past for a Better Future
Learning to let go of the past is not always easy, but there are ways to do it. You can deny your past, but wouldn’t it be easier if you could let it go and move onwards?
How to Let Go of the Past
Why is it hard to let go of the past? Perhaps we love torturing ourselves with the pain and reliving the best and sad moments? But why would you do that to yourself? In this post, you will learn why letting go of the past is the best decision you will ever make. Here’s how:
1. Be kind to yourself first
If there’s anything you need to do, be kind to yourself. Sometimes, there are things that we cannot forget, and we often blame ourselves for the wrong things. But we are a work in progress, and we need to be kinder to ourselves more often. Before learning to let go of the past, learn to forgive yourself first.
2. Talking to yourself in a positive way
The way you talk to yourself plays a role in your decisions. You can either talk to yourself to keep moving or stay where you are. Talking to yourself in a positive way can help your emotional pain and refocus your attention on what matters most [1].
3. Give your emotions a voice
Sometimes it is hard to repress the negative things in your life. And what better way to do this than to talk about it? Letting your feelings out and expressing the hurt you’ve felt is an excellent way to let go of how you truly feel.
Talk to your friends or family about it. Write it down, and say them out loud even if there is no one around. Cry if you must, scream if you can – doing all of these will help free you from whatever pain you are going through. It will also help you understand how you feel about everything. Understanding why it hurts will guide you to the truth and give you the strength to put it all behind you.
4. Acceptance is key
One of the critical pieces of letting go is to accept that there are things you cannot change [2]. Assuming that something happened in the past will be easier for you to let it go. Reliving the hurt and pain will only hinder you from living your life.
You can wish that everything did not happen, but there is nothing that you can do to change the outcome. There is no use rehashing the past, it will only end the same way, and that’s you in pain. So, accept that truth; learning to let go of the past is easier that way.
5. Decide to let go, now
You cannot let go if you do not commit yourself to it. It requires decision and commitment to stop reliving the past – a painful decision. But would you rather stay trapped in this bad memory? Or give yourself one last shot of pain by letting go of the past?
Whatever decision you make, you must stick to it. It will be hard at first, but you will see how far you have come as time progresses. It’s up to you to make a choice.
6. Learn to forgive
Forgiveness is not always easy to give, especially if you feel like they have wronged you. But, forgiveness is essential in letting go of the past. It is the first thing you must do – to forgive those who harmed or hurt you.
Waiting for the person/s to ask for your forgiveness may never come. The best thing you can do is to start working on forgiving yourself. Forgiveness is a vital part of your healing. It allows you to let go, not only of the past but your guilt, anger, hurt, and sadness. Once you learn how to forgive, you will feel lighter. The past no longer haunts you.
7. Seek professional help
If you have trouble letting go of the past, it would be best to seek professional help. I understand that it is not an easy process to get by yourself so if you are struggling, ask for help. There is no shame in that.
Your Takeaway
Learning to let go of the past can either make or break you. But sometimes, our past hurts us and keeps us from living our lives to the fullest. Of course, you don’t want to be in that predicament for the rest of your life. So, learn to embrace the changes in life as you let the past go.
Surround yourself with the people who love you. Let their strengths be yours. Be inspired to keep moving, and be kind to yourself, always. Focus on what gives you joy.
Remember, happiness is a choice – choose wisely. The past is far behind now. It is time to heal, and hopefully, these tips will provide you with the encouragement you need. Best of luck!
