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How To Let Go Of The Past!

Past Let Go
Is it possible to let go of the past? Past memories are entrenched in one that it continuously haunts.

We are caught in the shackles of the tormenting past that the golden present with endless possibilities, that is available to us right now is neglected. Let us look at some possible ways of letting go of the past.

Letting Go Is In Our Nature

Is it shocking when it is said that letting go is very much in one's nature itself? It is but a fact and may be difficult for us to accept owing to the gripping shackles of the past to which we think we are victimised.

If we can stop to give it a thought, it is only the matter of 'time' in which the past dissolves, though traits of it may appear occasionally. However the rigid tormenting grip is loosened, for the simple reason that our true nature itself is 'happiness' though we are shaken up by the intermittent sorrows of life.

  • Sorrows are but intermittent, why because no one seems to be sorrowful forever however intense the cause may be. The worst of worst, we even hold on to the death of loved ones only for a period of time, long or short! We then bounce back to life and get going with our daily routine and soon we are happy again!
  • You may now question as to how some who are struck by sorrow even go to the extent of giving up their life? It is not sorrow itself that is powerful but that we are powerless in our will!
  • Time is the magical remedy that can dissolve any deep sorrow in it, simply because the very nature of life itself is to flow!
  • May be we can handle the death of someone owing to our acceptance of the fact that it is universal. But even in the case of difficulties in life, don't we forget ourselves and laugh?
  • Hence our true nature is happiness itself.

Why We Don't Let Go

Let's analyse the fact as to why we do not let go.

  • It is the thought of an occurrence that pains us. Is it the thought that is gripping us or are we holding on to it? If we can think a bit deeply, it is we who are holding on to it by having our attention on it.
  • If we can remove or divert our attention from the thought, the pain ceases.
  • This is sometimes very clear when we voluntarily enjoy the gnawing pain of some occurrence, as in the case of a failed love affair. So it is we who voluntarily engage in empowering our thoughts.
  • Every emotion like, sorrow, guilt, anger, revenge, hatred, love etc are all nothing but thoughts.
  • So freeing yourself from the grip of thoughts is letting go.

How To Let Go

Small efforts and little changes can bring about a drastic change in your thought process which weakens the haunting problem.

It is little things put together that makes for greater happiness. So a little change in your day to day activities can freshen up your mind.

  • Count your blessings.
  • Simply look at your thoughts. Be a witness to them. They will lose their intensity. So whenever the thoughts stray to the past, just be alert to them and be conscious of them coming in.
  • Engage your self in Yoga or meditation for when the body is stretched, the mind also gets stretched.
  • Pranayama or breath regulation has an impact over your mind and vice versa.
  • Engage yourself in prayer.
  • Surrender to God or your Guru. True surrender would mean, giving up your thoughts of the past and remaining calm.
  • Engage yourself in walks or work outs which can rejuvenate your mind.
  • Meet new people to get yourself out of the shell. It can introduce new things in life.
  • If you are an introvert get your self to reading or painting or any other creative work. This will give you a feeling of fulfillment.
  • Reading energy boosts slowly but surely bombs the negative thought patterns. Instead of reading at home, go to a book store and spend time reading there.
  • Have a busy schedule to keep yourself engaged. This will weaken the thoughts of the tormenting past as they are not paid attention to.
  • Avoid self pity.
  • Unburden yourself to someone close.
  • Get to engage yourself in something new or brush up old forgotten talents.
  • Understand that life is a mixture of both pleasant and unpleasant things. There is no one ever who has not encountered problems and failures and none ever who will be always successful.
  • Look at the positive aspects of the troubling past. There are definitely a few of them!
  • Last but not the least, have a strong will to get yourself out of the tentacles of the past.

We do not accommodate dust and dirt in our houses. We are prompt to get rid of them for a clean place.

So why accommodate negative and useless thoughts? They are worse than garbage and are fit to be done away soon. So keep your mind clear of useless thoughts and expand your mind space off the clutter.

Hence letting go is tactfully handling the thoughts about the past. They are bound to disappear soon, if you focus to get them out.

Story first published: Thursday, August 5, 2010, 10:03 [IST]