Why are so many of us afraid of moving on with our lives? Because we all fear that moving onto new stages, people, places or things invalidates the love you had for the past.

Look back and appreciate what you learned in the past, but don’t spend so much time there that you lose the moments you are living in the present. The past should teach us how to better appreciate each moment, and the lessons we learn replace the realities we find ourselves in.

Subconsciously, the difficult lessons from the past embed themselves in your future and you’re suddenly five years since then, and seven months since you last thought about him--and surprisingly, it is all okay.

We fear that our survival despite the endings of old beginnings invalidates the intensity of the emotions, but it does everything but that. It shows our growth despite the pain we faced in the past, and how valuable that relationship/stage/person/place was in our life journey. It may seem counterproductive to establishing lives for ourselves, but sometimes we must simply lose things to gain much more.

Just because you move on with your life doesn’t mean something was a waste of time. Let me say that again: you did not waste your time.

Do not fear the pain of pulling away from these things, because I can tell you that you will love who you become in the end. That person, the highest self you are striving towards, is resilient. They are not afraid of letting go of the things that no longer bring them joy; they crave the feeling of letting go. They desire freedom of the highest order, and the strength to think about the past without dwelling on it.

That person is already inside of you, if you dare to find them. I dare you.