We all find ourselves holding onto things from our past – past experiences, regrets, or things we wish we had done differently. It is time to release this weight we are carrying around and begin anew.
It is time to let yourself shine. Holding onto the past keeps us stuck in the past, blocking the things we want for our future. There is nothing in our past that outweighs the gifts we can access for our future. We may regret the way we reacted or choices we made, but it is done and cannot be changed. We only have control of the now.
We may find ourselves so firmly rooted in our comfort zones, no matter how uncomfortable they are, and grown so accustomed to the life we currently live, that we don’t even notice the difficulties we face each day. This has become normal. Instead of staying in the status quo, we can take a moment to relook at what we want our life to be. We get to decide for ourselves what is working, what needs to change, and most importantly, what we are ready to release to make way for new opportunities.
Release what is holding you back by:
Looking at your past self and giving your past self the words, love and encouragement needed:
You may find yourself holding onto hurts or regrets from when you were a young child, or perhaps you keep thinking back to the way a past version of yourself was treated or behaved. Next time you think about that situation, instead of thinking of all the ways it should have been different, give your past self the forgiveness, love or encouragement needed. Then release the hold that memory has on you. You are a new person now. That version of you did the best they could with where they were, and it brought growth that will serve you now if you allow it to.
Shedding your old “skin”:
Opportunities come our way and sometimes we don’t even look at them because we still see ourselves as the past version of who we were. In a past experience, maybe a similar opportunity arose and you felt unable to step into it, or you may have had a bad experience when you went for the opportunity. You may find that you measure your worth or abilities by that experience. Instead, recognize all the growth and learning you receive each day. Compare photos of yourself from a year ago with your present-day self – you will see a marked difference in the person you are now. That alone shows you how much you have grown.
Every day is a new opportunity to choose you:
Every time you forgive yourself, release something you still hold against yourself, or let go of something holding you back, you choose YOU. Letting go is a powerful form of self-care, and while it may be tougher to let go of certain things or even people who are not good to you, it is much like cleaning the house. Clear out the clutter in your life, both mentally and physically, and create all the wonderful space for new people, experiences and opportunities to come forth – those that serve your heart’s desire. I invite you each day to choose YOU in one act of self-care. When negative thoughts or feelings come up about yourself, let them go. Send them on their way with the knowledge that you are a new person today.
Choose your now so that when you look back at this moment, it is with satisfaction. Choose to claim your joy and release the baggage that is keeping you stuck.
Many Blessings,
Santa
Self-care: Suggestions for what to do, how to go about it?