Let go and move ahead
When I was told it's November already, a part of me refused to believe it. Didn't this year start like, not that long back? It convinced me that I really had lost track of my time and that maybe it was time to look at what I really did all these days.
My last year in college has slowly started to add up its pressure on me and others around me. In a year we would all be in different paths.
This got me thinking. How do people move on? How would they feel moving ahead with, or without the people they value with them? Let me share what I think about this.
Moving ahead can be positive for many. But a lot of us does find it difficult to just keep going. We wish to live in the past, to be part of that familiar atmosphere.
A big part of moving ahead is letting go. It's difficult to let go of the past, especially if you've been holding on to deep negative views for a long period. The longer we linger on the past, the more difficult it is to break those cognitive habits. It is, however, not impossible; all it takes is some determination and effort to modify the way your brain perceives the issue.
Almost all of us hold on to a notion or scenario that we thought should be different, and this prevents us from living our best lives and keeps us playing small instead of living big. What if you let go of your preconceived notions about how the past should have played out? What if you viewed everything through the "everything happens for a reason" or "everything happens for a reason that serves me" lens? This is one approach to letting go of the past. Everything that has happened in your past has lead you to this point. You are exactly where you should be right now.
Let go of "how things were meant to go."
First and foremost, you must let go of your expectations of how things should "happen." This is critical for understanding how to let go. Holding on to "could've," "should've," and "would've" isn't helping you at all.
We try and try to manage the outside environment to match our internal inclinations, but most of the time, life delivers us unexpected curve balls. We cling to beliefs of "how it was intended to go," and by never letting go of the past, we experience internal disturbances that lead to feelings of melancholy, anxiety, overwhelm, and regret. Not the best sentiments, are they?
When you're trapped in the past, you're not living in the present, which means you're not living your greatest life. Mindfulness is one technique for focusing on letting go of the past. Mindfulness is all about being present in the now, watching each moment as it unfolds without judgement. I realise it's easier said than done. However, practice makes perfect! Mindfulness will also assist you in reducing anxiety and increasing mental clarity, both of which will assist you in moving forward and living life in the moment.
Instead of dwelling on the past, focus on what you want right now. Letting go of the past allows you to tap into what you want now, which will lead you to be inspired to find your true purpose and passion in life at this moment. The past is irrelevant. What matters is the now. Do what you want now – what brings you pleasure, what fulfills your desires, what brings you closer to your goal. If you don’t know how to let go, you don’t know how to live your best life. So take a deep breath and just let go.
In a short time life will throw us into a path we might choose or not choose. In my opinion take that path, however dreadful it maybe. We can never bring back what is already over. Those bittersweet memories will make the base for us to keep moving. Progressing consistently and with discipline. Hopefully we can always look at what is coming up for us and even with little to no motivation, keeping just little habit of doing your best in your path will take you to places you never thought you would ever get to. Life is a beautiful mysterious adventure worth taking.
“The only thing a person can ever really do is keep moving forward. Take that big leap forward without hesitation, without once looking back. Simply forget the past and forge toward the future.” -
Alyson Noel
