Emotional Freedom: The Art of Letting Go
Emotional Freedom: The Art of Letting Go
Written By: Shaundtrya Ganasan, Licensed Counselor (KB11097)
Letting go of the past is a challenging yet beautiful journey. Past; is something that often tags along without our consciousness. It often manifests in the way we think, feel, and behave. Sometimes without us realizing it, it takes control of our present as well. However, letting go of it can be a tough process as well. We often hear praises like,
“It’s is in the past, move on.”
“Forget it, focus on the present.”
“Take the lessons and leave the past behind.”
But letting go of the past is not as easy as said. Imagine you are carrying a heavy bag full of rocks representing your past hurt, guilt, unresolved issues, and shame everywhere you go. It may not be as heavy in the beginning, but over time it becomes unbearable, constantly weighing you down. This is how it feels to hold onto the past. It can be challenging to let go of the past that may stem from different factors like
Nevertheless, just as you learn to let go of the past and unburden yourself by unpacking the backpack, it lightens your emotional load; leading towards emotional freedom and healing.
Reminder: If you or your loved one are struggling to move forward from the past, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at Soul Mechanics KD or Soul Mechanics Ipoh.
Remember, seeking help is not a sign of weakness but strength!
Thus, this article delves into identifying signs of the past in present, barriers in letting go, and practical tools towards healing from your lingering past; moving towards peace and lightness in your heart.
Lion King and Echoes of the Past
Letting go of the past is a journey of travelling within you with a backpack and helping your past versions to cut the baggage they’re carrying and giving them a backpack to explore your inner journey along with you.
In short, it is a journey of rewiring your past version’s beliefs and helping them to untangle their baggage.
Let us dive into Lion King’s message on the past. Remember the famous conversation between Rafiki and Simba regarding the 'past'?
Simba: "I know what I have to do. But going back means I'll have to face my past. I've been running from it for so long."
Rafiki: "Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it."
Now let us broaden the perspective about the ‘past’ from Lion King. Running away from the past leads towards suppression where the past starts showing up through conscious present patterns, thoughts and emotions. Learning from it makes you move forward.
Yet it is important to process the past, embrace the emotions that tag along with it, and take your time to let it go. This helps you to unpack past baggage and move forward with lessons, not the unresolved emotional pain tagging silently without our knowledge.
Thus, letting go does not mean that you're facing your past. It means you're gradually facing, embracing, and then releasing them. Although it can be a painful and tough process, the emotional freedom that you would gain makes it all worthwhile.
Signs that You’re Still Stuck in the Past
There will be times when you feel you have moved on from the past but not yet. Below are some ways your unhealed past manifests in your present:
Constant Rumination
When you have an unhealed past, you may frequently find yourself in the constant loop of replaying memories or events in your mind. It also makes you struggle to be in the present and focus on the here and now.
Emotional Triggers
An unaddressed past manifests itself through emotional triggers. You may find yourself getting triggered easily by certain people, situations, or places that remind you of your past hurt or painful experiences.
Avoiding Unfamiliriaity (New Experiences)
An unprocessed past also makes you reluctant to explore unfamiliarity due to the fear of getting hurt again. You may be more comfortable in familiarity where you can predict the possible outcomes rather than new experiences that venture towards the unknown.
Persistent Regret, Guilt, or Shame
Undealt past often manifests itself through intense or recurring feelings of regret, shame or guilt about your past decisions or memories; leading towards detachment. This may ultimately affect your self-esteem and push you into the constant loop of these strong emotions.
Difficulty Trusting Others
Unhealed past baggage or painful experiences often make you struggle to form new relationships or trust others; fearing the potential disappointments or betrayals that could happen.
The above are some common signs of an unhealed past, there are also other signs such as self-sabotaging patterns, avoidance in relationships, recurrent flashbacks, health issues with no clear cause (e.g. stomach upset, difficulty breathing, change in sleep/appetite, etc), difficulty maintaining healthy relationships and so on. Thus, it is crucial to understand yourself and your signs to gradually break free from the past that constantly tags along.
Barriers to Letting Go
Although you want to let go of the past, certain barriers may pull you back at times. Below are some common factors that often hinder us from breaking free from the past:
Attachment to Familiarity
Sometimes we tend to cling to the past as it feels more familiar which gives a sense of safety. Unfamily although it may be healthy, can give a sense of venturing into the unknown change which may disrupt our safe and secure feeling.
Lack of Closure
Another barrier to letting go is unfinished endings which may leave us to feel stuck. The pending closure can make our moving on process challenging as we may seek answers or resolutions to let go of the past more peacefully.
Unresolved Emotions
Undealth emotions like guilt, anger, shame, or hurt can create a lingering attachment towards the past. Not addressing these emotions and constantly suppressing them can influence your present patterns of beliefs and actions.
Unhealthy Thought Patterns & Beliefs
Persistent unhealthy thoughts and patterns about yourself and others due to past experiences can trap you in a loop of rumination. These beliefs can cultivate a sense of helplessness and hinder progress.
Fear of Loss or Change
The letting go process also consists of loss. It could be a dream, identity, trust or even a relationship. The fear of letting go of something precious or encountering change can be a strong barrier in your healing journey.
Hence, addressing these hindrances and working on them is the stepping stone towards the process of letting go.
Reminder: If you or your loved one are struggling to move forward from the past, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at Soul Mechanics KD or Soul Mechanics Ipoh.
Remember, seeking help is not a sign of weakness but strength!
How to Embark Your Letting Go Journey
The journey of letting go can be tough and emotionally draining. Here are some ways you can start your healing journey from an unprocessed past:
Journaling
Writing down your feelings and thoughts regularly helps you to process them, gain clarity and release pent-up emotions. It also helps you identify and work on your unhealthy patterns or how the past influences your present.
Start your self-reflection journey with Soul Mechanics Journal. May your healing journey begin with us. You can purchase our SM WHO Journal here.
Establish Healthy Boundaries
It is crucial to start setting healthy boundaries with people or situations that may trigger your unresolved past emotions or memories. This gives you a space to heal and move forward from the past.
Therapy
Therapy guides you to understand your past patterns, and unhealthy beliefs that are influenced by your unresolved past, and tailoring more personalised interventions to let go of the past; moving towards acceptance and healing.
Self-Compassionate Practices
Indulge in small, achievable self-care and mindfulness activities like breathing exercises, gardening, walking, or even getting yourself a cup of your favourite beverage. It helps you to appreciate the small little things in the present; reducing the intensity of past memories.
Explore Unfamiliarity
Practice exploring new hobbies or venturing into something new and unfamiliar. This helps you to focus on the present and also reduces your fear of the unknown.
Remember it is okay to venture into this journey at your own pace and time. What matters is the self-awareness of the underlying and the conscious efforts to work on it; no matter how much time it takes.
Therapy’s Hand in Your Emotional Freedom Journey
Sometimes it may be tough to start your healing journey alone. Being vulnerable with loved ones may be challenging as well. During these times, therapy can be your guiding light on starting your healing journey. Below are some ways therapy can assist you towards your emotional freedom:
Acknowledging & Processing Emotions
Therapy provides you with a comfortable and safe space to explore and understand your deep-rooted emotions and patterns influenced by the past. A therapist would further guide you to process and let go of these emotions rather than being engulfed in the loop of suppression and rumination.
Identifying Unhealthy Beliefs & Patterns
A trained professional therapist would guide you to address your unhealthy patterns, thoughts and beliefs that stem from past events. This further helps you to understand and untangle yourself from these beliefs, and move towards developing a more healthier patterns and beliefs.
Building Self-Compassion & Forgiveness
Therapy fosters self-compassion and self-forgiveness. It helps you understand your underlying emotions and learn to let go of strong, intense emotions like guilt, resentment and shame.
Developing Coping Strategies
Therapy also guides you to develop coping strategies that cater to your needs by understanding the core of your unresolved issues. These tools play a major role in letting go of the past and promoting long-term healing.
Creating Future-Focused Mindset
Therapy helps you to set future-oriented goals rather than ruminating about the past. It also helps you to untangle the past influence in your visions, and navigate you to work towards personal growth; leading towards a more fulfilling life.
Hence, therapy can guide you to uncover the past gradually without being engulfed by it and to also learn effective ways to let it go; cultivating personal peace.
Conclusion
The art of letting go is never an easy process but crucial to attaining emotional freedom and healing. This freedom frees you from the weight of the past that often consciously and unconsciously pulls you down. It is also essential to remember, that everyone has their own letting go timeline, don’t rush the process.
In this process, therapy plays a major role in providing a safe space to process your pain and in guiding you with therapeutic tools that are tailored to your needs and issues. Hence by incorporating both self-help techniques and therapy, you can navigate your healing journey more effectively and healthily; promoting healthy relationships with yourself and others.
“We can’t forget the past, but we can rewire our perception towards it.”
Shaundtrya Ganasan, Licensed Counselor (KB11097)
If you’re looking for a therapist in Kota Damansara or Ipoh area, you can click here for more information.
If you enjoyed reading this, why not broaden the horizon of knowledge by learning about "Feeling Lost: How I Found A Way Back"? You can read the blog here.
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