The psychology of letting go.
In this way, our previous wrongdoings can actually clue us in to what we hold now important."
But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, of course.
11 tips for letting go of the past, from therapists:
Be intentional.
“Make that commitment to let go,” she says.
Take the time to process your thoughts and emotions.
Understand that healing is not linear, and letting go takes time.
Work with an affirmation or mantra.
She notes that her all-time favorite and go-to mantra is,That was then, this is now.
As such, Spinelli says, mindfulness is an important practice for letting go of the past.
Meditate and visualize.
Speaking of mindfulness, Spinelli is a big proponent of meditation and visualization for letting things go as well.
Practice radical acceptance.
The pain might still be there, but some of the suffering will be alleviated," Bruneau notes.
Forgive yourself and others.
According to Spinelli, sometimes letting go requires leaning into forgiveness, whether that’s forgivenesstoward yourselfor another person.
“Recognize that it’s toxic for you to hold on to it,” Spinelli says.
Try inner child and/or shadow work.
Reconnect to yourself.
Reconnect with your body.
It’s all connected."
Give yourself grace.
Last but certainly not least, be patient with yourself as you learn to let go.
Again, we can’t take back what’s happened, but we can change how we move forward.
How to let go of the past in relationships.
And the first step is forgiveness.
Here are our full guides tohow to forgive someoneandhow to let go of someonefor more tips.
How to let go of past mistakes and forgive yourself.
But what if today, right now, we truly had a blank slate?
“Focusing on theI should do thisorI should have done thatsets you up for being self-critical.
Here’s our full guide toletting go of guiltfor more information.
How to let go of past trauma.
FAQ:
Why is it so hard to let go of the past?
How do I stop thinking about the past?
How do I let go of past heartbreak?
Consider working with a therapist if you’re really struggling to let go.
