How to Let Go of the Past and Embrace Your Future

Are you feeling depressed or anxious because life isn’t unfolding the way you thought it would? You’re not alone. Learning how to let go is not easy, but thinking about the way things “should” have gone is toxic for your mental wellbeing, and it really brings you no positive benefits. If things in your life haven’t gone the way you hoped, dwelling on this will only bring you unhappiness, and hold you back from uncovering your true potential.

Letting go of the past isn’t easy, especially if you’ve been holding onto intense negative beliefs for a long time. The longer we’ve been dwelling on the past, the more difficult it will be to change those thought patterns. However, it’s not impossible – it just takes some dedication and practice to change the way your brain sees the situation.

When you’re stuck in the past, you aren’t living your life in the moment, meaning you certainly aren’t living your best life. One way you can focus on letting go of the past is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is all about being in the here-and-now, observing each moment as it comes without judgment. Easier said than done, I know. But practice makes perfect! Mindfulness will also help you reduce anxiety and gain mental clarity – both of which will help you keep moving forward and live 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.

Before you completely move forward from your past, see what you can learn from it. There are always lessons to be learned from the things that happen to us in life. Instead of looking back at the past and just moping about it, look at it objectively.

Ask yourself, “What did I learn from this situation and how have I become stronger?” This will give you insights into how the situation actually happened for you and made you stronger as a person. Writing down this information in a journal can help you slow down and process your thoughts, and this is a great tool for learning how to let go.

Now that you’ve analyzed, asked, and learned how to let things go, you are truly on the right path to keep moving forward. The last step is to do just that: move. You need to move physically and mentally. One of my favorite quotes is from the movie World War Z, where Brad Pitt is hiding from zombies during an apocalypse. He is encouraged to stay hidden instead of going out into the outside world where he would be vulnerable. Pitt’s character tells the man, “Movement is life,” and leaves the apartment where he is hidden. Eventually, he is able to escape while the group that stayed behind is eventually found and killed.

Of course, that scenario is extreme, but the same is true for us. Movement is life. We have to keep going, we have to trust ourselves that the universe has more in store for us, but we have to be willing to take a risk and take the next step. When we hold on to the past, it locks us up like a ball and chain. But once we break those chains and move forward, the universe will unfold in a more beautiful way than we could ever imagine.

While your past experiences may have shaped you, it's important to remember that you are not defined by them. Any attachment you have to these past events is a construct of your mind, and they will continue to hold you back if you let them.

Cut these ties and commit to a new life, free from the constraints of past events.

Letting go of the past and moving forward is not the easy option. If it were, everyone would do it. However, it is impossible to move towards a positive future without a positive attitude and outlook on life. Holding on to the past will inhibit this progress.

To be successful in the future, take the first step by committing to let go of your past today.