Lift Yourself Up While Letting Go

We all know that letting go is a necessary part of life. Holding on to everything just isn’t and option. As parents, we start from the very beginning preparing to release them as young adults into the world. Why is it so hard to actually let go of the things we collect along the way?

Probably because we automatically, energetically embed feelings, sensations and information into each and every item that we choose keep. Although the item itself has not changed with this encoding, it now contains personal meaning. Maybe it represents a childhood milestone, a symbol of love, or a comforting reminder of friendships we hold dear. By surrounding ourselves with these things, we can be supported and get good feelings from them.

But there is more than just sentimentality to it. There is also the realization that when we release a physical object, we will have to detach our energy from it–and that can feel challenging. Are we “losing” our memories when we lose the item? Are we dishonoring that person or that part of life if we let it go? And who is going to receive it with the same level of gratitude? Wasn’t it our job to be the custodians of these meaningful objects? What if my memory goes and I forget about all the happy times? Won’t I need a reminder?

Those are the questions that most often come to mind. But what we rarely ask ourselves is this: how many wonderful new things am I making space for when I release these items? How can my life move forward now, if I am not preoccupied with ruminating over the past?

We want to “preserve” the memories that bring good feelings, while opening up room in our homes for new experiences. The strategies we employ are highly individual, and each person will have to find what works the best. Some less sentimental types will load up a truck and be done without a hitch. I am slightly jealous of those who can release without a second thought!

If you struggle with sentimentality, ask yourself this question: do I need to hold the physical object to trigger the good feelings, or could seeing a picture do the same thing? Then try taking photos of the items and putting them into a folder in your phone or in the cloud.

Now you have room to grow! And the pictures will be there whenever you need a lift!