Why is it so Hard to Let Go?

​Why is it that we have such a hard time letting go of things?  Whether it’s an old friendship, a relationship that no longer works, a pair of old jeans that you haven’t worn since high school, a business that is failing, etc. We have a hard time letting go because we have attached a part of our identity to that which we are letting go of.  

Our identity is made up of our personality, our life experiences, the people we interact with, etc. Some parts of our identity we are aware of and others, we are not.  If you’ve attached a part of you to something, it’s hard to let yourself go.

So, what can you do.  Examine why you are having trouble letting go.  Take a pair of old shoes for instance with holes in them that you don’t wear anymore.  Ask yourself what part of you is in your shoes. Is it the pair of shoes that you wore to win a big game?  Did you spend an entire summer playing in them and having fun? Perhaps you have attached winning, play and fun to your shoes….no wonder why you don’t want to get rid of them!

Once you are aware of your attachments, you can remember the good times or the emotions and then let the physical item go.

Practice going around your house and looking at items that you never use anymore.  This works especially well for clothes. See why you still have them, remember the good memories and then get rid of your new item.  Observe how you feel. You will notice that as you remove old things from your life, you will feel lighter and more free.

Let me know how this activity goes!  613-761-1600

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