The Art of Letting Go | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

The Art of Letting Go

You can move on.

21
The Art of Letting Go

It’s typical that once something that meant so much to you is no longer the same, you have to let it go. Imagine a rope. You’re holding on to this rope which happens to have a large weight attached to it. You have no idea what that weight is. It could be happiness, misfortune, anything. This rope gets heavier and heavier and soon you become tired and depressed. Your body is worn out, you feel a constant heaviness on your shoulders, and the only thing that you feel is the soreness from holding on too long. This is when you learn to let go.

There are times when we let this rope slide from our hands a bit, and we feel relieved. However, we think about the weight that is on the end of the rope and continue to hold on again. We do this over and over again. We release then pull again. Letting go is never easy. Even when we have no choice but to let go, we can’t do it. What if’s can hold us back on doing what may be best. What if it works out? What if I can make this better? What if this is just a rough patch? Unfortunately, those lingering thoughts of hope are the worst for letting go.

We continue to put our minds and bodies through these cycles that are caused by our thoughts and feelings. It’s okay. The most important thing to understand when learning to let go is that it’s okay to abolish the possible thought that things will work out. If you have spent so much time going back and forth, the chances of things getting better are not high. Always remember, when one door closes, another one does open.

Believe it or not, one of the hardest things about letting go is realizing that something that used to mean so much to you no longer means anything at all. It’s okay. You will find something new that fills the void of what is no longer in your life. Everything happens for a reason and the reason isn’t always in your favor. Let what has been troubling you free. If you’re unsure on whether or not you should let something go, let it go. If it comes back, it’s meant to be in your life. If it doesn’t, it was never really yours to keep. As cliché as it is, it’s true. Whatever is meant to be shouldn’t be so hard. What’s worth having doesn’t come easy, but it shouldn’t put your mind and body through an emotional roller coaster that makes you question who you are and what you do. Realize what is good for you, and rid yourself of what you have made yourself believe was good for you.

Meditation and yoga have proven to be most effective in occupying the mind and helping to let go of what is troubling you. These exercises help you relax and ease the mind of what weighs your body down. The breathing in these two practices also helps to release tension in your body making you feel weightless. One of the greatest rewards from yoga is a happy and healthy mind, and body. In no time, you will see yourself smiling brighter and feeling lighter. Now, think back to the rope you were so tightly holding on to. The rope has now fallen into the abyss, your hands aren’t sore, and your body is no longer heavy with uncertainty. Letting go is never easy, but love yourself enough to understand when it’s time to put yourself first.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
dumbbell
Twist Photography

Going to the gym and working out on a daily basis (with breaks once in awhile) has been a great way for me to feel good about myself. It is 100% more than just looking good. Especially after starting college and having the stress and anxiety of tests, assignments, and just figuring out my future, the gym at my school has definitely been a place of relief for me and I have numerous reasons of why everyone should push themselves to get to the gym when they can.

Keep Reading...Show less
shameless
Tube Filter

Sometimes you need a break. A break from school, studying, work, anything that life throws at you. We are all guilty of binge watching a show that we just cannot get enough of. I know that I've gotten so fixated on a show that there have been entire days that I have day-dreamed about getting home and watching a particular show. Next time you find yourself having an urge to binge watch a series be sure, to check out the following.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

5 GIFs That All College Students Can Relate To

Trust me: If you're a college student, you would want to read this...

371
college calculator
Flickr Creative Commons

Oh college, lovely, lovely college. A four-year time span that is filled with many highs and many lows. Between procrastinating on an essay that is due at midnight to getting your first library card (if you know what I mean), college is a time that you should not take for granted, yet it is also a time where you feel like your entire world is falling apart. It is a time where one day you can feel like you are on top of the world and then the next day you are 500 feet below the ground surface.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

12 Festive Ways To Decompress After Finals

When you need to get rid of your leftover stress but also be in the Christmas spirit.

256
dog
Pexels

So you're finally finished with your semester and you really need to decompress from it, but you're also feeling the time crunch because Christmas is like ten days away and you haven't even gotten to do anything fun and festive yet. No worries! Fortunately, there are several festive things you can do to help put the stress far behind you. You can also make some of your usual favorite things to do Christmasy. Basically, you're winning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

5 Benefits Of Learning Different Languages

It's a pain to learn but it's definitely worth it in the end.

2855
learning different languages
a2zli

When I was learning how to talk, I was taught both Portuguese and English at the same time. In elementary school, I started taking mandatory Spanish classes, which I did well in because of my knowledge of Portuguese. Then in high school, on top of taking Spanish, I also started taking French. Now, in college, already fluent in English and Portuguese, I'm in the process of becoming fluent in Spanish, and I have a standard high school level understanding of French.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments