“How can I let go of the past and move on with my life?” This is a question that many people ask themselves when they are feeling stuck. Maybe you have made mistakes in the past, or maybe someone has hurt you. Whatever it is, how do you get beyond those painful memories to see a bright future? In this blog-post, we will discuss 4 ways how to let go of the past and move on with your life!
1. Let go of the past by getting rid of things that remind you of the past
Sometimes when we feel stuck, it can be because there is something in our life that reminds us of how things used to be. When you are feeling down about how far you have come or how much more work needs to get done before your future will improve, look around and ask yourself what items might remind you of better times?
- If a certain piece of clothing brings back memories of an ex who broke up with you then donate it so someone else can enjoy wearing it instead!
Not everything has to take place at home either; if you attend group meetings where people share their stories then maybe one day while listening together, another person’s story will help provide insight into how they found peace after making changes in their life.
We all know how difficult it can be to move on and how easy it is to get caught up in the past, but one thing’s for sure – you are strong enough to make changes that will ultimately help you live a life of peace.
What do I need to get started?
A journal or notebook where you can write your thoughts when they come so there’s nothing left unsaid. It doesn’t have to be complicated; all you really need is paper and pen or pencil! The idea behind this exercise is not only freeing yourself from what has happened, but also being able to look back at how far you’ve come as well as how much more work needs to get done before your future will improve. Having these things written down will give them a sense of reality, which will make you feel more proactive in how to move forward.
- A positive attitude and some motivation from the people who love and care about you! You can’t do this alone – it takes a village.
- Some time on your hands so that when those negative thoughts creep up, you have enough space to breathe. Forcing yourself into thinking “yes I can” rather than “no I can’t”, is what’s going to push through these tough moments and get things done one step at a time.
Tip: If social media is an escape for you while trying not to be upset or dwell on past events (even if they are good), delete all social media apps off your phone for a while until you feel like they don’t have such an impact on your progress.
2. Focus on what’s in front of you – make a list of all the good things happening now
If a lot of these positive things are small and seemingly insignificant, it’s okay! That just means that your life is manageable now and in control rather than chaotic and overwhelming with too many disparate elements at once.
Moving on can be difficult when there was so much time invested in what happened before or if we have regrets about how events unfolded, but it doesn’t mean that they define us as people. What defines us are how we choose to move forward from here.
Why you should let go of the past
Hope for the future is important because without it our past mistakes would swallow up all hope (and eventually us). But also remember that every day presents an opportunity for change – even though some days might seem fairly uneventful.
How to forget the past and move on with your life
We have all come across situations that are not what we would like them to be in our lives. This can leave us feeling paralyzed, stuck and without any sense of control over how things unfolded for us. There is a way forward though – it’s just about how you cope with these difficulties. When struggling from overwhelming feelings or difficult memories, make sure you take the time necessary to process through everything so it doesn’t pile up until later when there isn’t enough space left inside of yourself.
Moving beyond past mistakes will help see a brighter future because regret takes away hope too quickly which eventually leaves one feeling completely hopeless. Moving forward into new opportunities makes the whole situation a lot more manageable.
3. Be present in your current life, don’t dwell on old memories or worry about future events
Living in the moment and being present in your current life is essential to living a fulfilling and happy life. It’s essential that you let go of the past and embrace the future.
Living for the now, can also help you forget the past because when dwelling on how bad things are today it makes those memories from before seem like nothing. Remembering how good everything was then while comparing that with how terrible it feels right now will only bring more disappointment.
We all have our own perspective of what constitutes happiness which could be different than someone else’s; however, this doesn’t mean we should compare ourselves to others or make them feel as if they’re less than just, so you don’t measure up. You shouldn’t expect yourself to be perfect either – the key word here is “happy”.
Being aware of your thoughts on a daily basis is very important. We all have the power to change how we feel and how we act with just a few adjustments in our mindset, even if it seems small at first.
It’s okay to want more out of life but don’t let that desire turn into discontentment because you’ll begin comparing yourself against people who are different from you or those whose lives seem better than yours; what this does is make you unhappy without any real reason for being so.
Your focus shifts away from what could be good in your own world – like family, friends, hobbies etc., which has nothing to do with how others are living their lives.
4. Start small with one new habit at a time, such as meditation or journaling
Trying out new routines and habits is how you’ll move beyond your past and start building a brighter future.
It’s okay to want more out of life but don’t let that desire turn into discontentment because you’ll begin comparing yourself against people who are different from you or those whose lives seem better than yours; what this does is make you unhappy without any real reason for being so.
You might be wondering:
How can you let go of the past?
Meditation can be a really effective way of letting go of the past and moving forward.
If you feel as if your life is too full, try cutting back on how many activities you commit to each week.
Journaling can also be a great escape from dwelling in the past or worrying about what might happen in the future because it forces you to focus solely on the present moment while giving an outlet for how you’re really feeling inside.
When journaling, make sure to not hold anything back; just let it all out with no judgement and remember that whatever comes up isn’t permanent because once these emotions are put onto paper they’ll release their grip over your mind and allow space.
If you are struggling to move on, get help
Getting the support of a therapist or a coach can be immensely beneficial for the process of working through your past and looking forward to how you want to live moving forward.
The last thing that we will cover is how to let go of the negative feelings associated with our mistakes from years ago, which are holding us back in our present life. In order to do this there are two steps:
#1 write down all the regrets you have about something that happened during a certain time period of your life;
#2 forgive yourself by acknowledging how at one point it was necessary or good because without those choices who knows where you would be today?
When done correctly these small acts on their own may not seem like much but over time they add up.
Tip: Try something new each day – take up a hobby or learn something new
Fresh ideas and creativity can also free us. Plus, more importantly, they can also teach us how to let go of the past for good.
Focus on Your Bright Future
- Discover what makes you happy and do more of it!
- Accept the past – you cannot change it
- Take care of yourself and be healthy
- Some things in life are not meant to last – they will pass
- When you learn to let go of the past, you will be begin to feel a sense of relief, perhaps even like a heavy weight has been taken off your shoulders – like the easing of a burden
- Allow yourself some time and space before diving back into relationships or commitments. This is how you begin to love your future self!
- Ignore the chatter of those who want you to stay stuck in the past with them so that they can feel better about themselves.
The Past Cannot Be Changed but It Can Be Forgiven And Free Us From Ourselves
“Every day, when I wake up, I am grateful for my new day – today may bring hard times or good ones but either way every moment is different than the one before it.”
And finally
Letting go of the past can be a difficult process but it’s an essential part of self-growth and personal development. By being mindful and reframing your perspective, you can create healthier relationships with yourself and others.
Learning to forgive yourself and others is key to leading a life free from resentment or guilt. Being aware of your emotions and allowing yourself to feel them is also important in understanding where you have been, so that you can move forward with greater clarity and purpose.
