In this blog post, I’ll share the art of letting go and finding peace. This is a very personal blog post that’s close to my heart. Truthfully, this blog post has been years in the making. I thought of writing this down by 2021 when I was going through the darkest days of my life, but in the end, I didn’t have the energy to do so. Hence, fast forward to now, and I found the strength and wit to write this down. Welcome to the blog and the art of letting go and finding peace!
The Art of Letting Go: What is it?
There are different ways how people interpret the art of letting go. Most will connect it to the concept of a break-up or any relationship bound to end. I have encountered this phrase many times in almost three decades. Yes, I’m currently 29 and turning 30 this year! 🥺
Anyway, the phrase “the art of letting go” is genuinely popular with those struggling to overcome problems that cause them a lot of pain. Different books or other materials will teach and enlighten you about letting go. In life, we let go of the pain that brought us down and the memories that prevent us from moving forward.
Knowing and accepting the truth will always help you quickly navigate life. When you learn to let go, overcoming challenges that may put you at a crossroads will be easier. Even so, there will be times when the trash may take itself out.
But the question is, how do you learn the art of letting go?
Learning the art of letting go
Saying goodbye to something or someone may become a tough challenge especially if you’re not used to it. There are some tendencies you want to fight or continue whatever you have with that other being. In the end, it may be better for you if you let go of things that don’t bring good to your life anymore.
Learning the art of letting go is hard; sometimes, you feel lost about where to start. It all begins when you acknowledge that you want to let go of some baggage weighing you down. In my experience, it took me a while before I realized that some people are needed to let go of them too.
Acknowledging the things that don’t bring value to you anymore
At first, I only thought that objects or material things were the ones that should be let go of. I do that through decluttering or giving away stuff that I haven’t used for at least six (6) months. As I age, I realize that even intangible things should also be let go of, especially if they don’t bring joy to you anymore. Some of those include relationships or friendships with various people.
When you acknowledge that these things don’t bring value to your life anymore, that’s time to start contemplating if you want to end relationships and treasure the existing ones that genuinely give value to your life. Most of the things I say come from different self-help books I’ve read through the years. So, know that the things I’ve done may or may not apply to you the same way those did to me.
Remember that you live your life the way you want it. Just note that you’re good as long as you’re not stepping on other people! 😉
Telling yourself that things are going to be okay
Sometimes, you’ll struggle with unfollowing people on social media because they might think you’re no longer friends. In a nutshell, your friendships and relationships with people are not defined by follows or follow-backs on your social profiles. If you feel compelled to follow back, that may not be a good decision. That would be disturbing your peace, and you won’t like that.
Sometimes you feel things are not okay, and it happens. When it happens to me, I ride the waves. I go with the flow instead of going against it. When I do that, I spend less time worrying about what’s to happen or the consequences and focus on myself and my progress.
If you get some time to be with yourself, I highly encourage you to talk to yourself. Not just the superficial self-talk but more the introspection. It lets you see what’s not working for you and what you can improve. Use the time to hype yourself up and be the support system you need!
Trying out new things
When you try out new things, this will help you navigate and find peace. There are different hobbies that you could try out that will let you cope. But coping mechanisms differ depending on the person because there’s no one-size-fits-all when managing.
From my experience, I explored different hobbies and interests during my major depressed state. Some hobbies I tried include keyboard modding, playing video games, streaming, and listening to true crime podcasts. I felt that I had to try new things that won’t feel like a chore or that I would need to use all my strength.
Getting yourself out there and trying new things is okay because it helps you re-center yourself and reconnect with your inner self. Don’t punish yourself if you feel that the things you used to love faded. It’s how life is.
Creating boundaries for yourself
Honestly, this is tricky, primarily if you used to be a person who naturally helps others. In the end, you’ll lose yourself helping others, and no one’s there to help you when it’s your turn. That isn’t warm-hearted, especially to yourself.
I learned the hard way when creating boundaries. The person I used to be helped whenever she could. She’d believe the elaborate stories that a person doesn’t have the means to communicate with their mother in a foreign land, and she’ll help. In another instance, she’d accept people who could have been toxic and would flake out on her in crucial situations.
Frankly, it took me years to create boundaries that I’ll adhere to without a doubt. I told myself every day that it’s okay to pause, step back, and help myself first before others. A psychosocial therapist told me back in 2020 that I was indeed empathetic, and like a sponge absorbing almost everyone’s emotions and thoughts. It brought me good things, but also drained the heck out of me. I wrote daily affirmations and mantras to help me through it. Meditation gave me a new holistic experience of reminding myself that it’s okay.
What’s next?
Once you realize that it’s time to let go of things and people, you’ll realize that you should’ve done that ages ago. There are things that we outgrow and don’t bring us joy anymore. It’s fine. You’re not bad for doing that. After all, who would take care of you if you can’t take care of yourself? Right?
Remember, prioritizing yourself above others is the best form of self-love you can give yourself.
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