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.