January 28th, 2019

Letting Go

Let’s talk about the importance of letting go in the process of habit-building. Releasing habits that don’t serve you is just as important as starting healthy ones. Without this step your habits will be in conflict, and we want habit changes to be easy to sustain.
Let’s use weight loss as an example. You can add healthy foods to your diet and start exercising, but if you don't examine why you overeat in the first place, you will be in conflict. You’ve got to let go of some things; not just behaviors but beliefs as well.
​Let’s consider some examples:
I let go of drinking alcohol in the evening.
I let go of feeling responsible for others feelings.
I let go of wasting my time in avoidance.
Can you feel how freeing that is? It’s not forcing, it's a release. And releasing that which isn't serving you frees up so much energy for the things that do.
When you are ready to let go, fist consider how this habit has served you. Express gratitude to yourself. Perhaps you have felt that everyone’s happiness was yours to provide; your sense of self-worth is linked to being of service. You have worked hard to keep everyone happy, even at the expense of your own health. See the goodness in that. You are a good person. You want to help others. It’s a beautiful thing! But helping others in this way isn't serving you. And loving yourself means creating boundaries. Others’ happiness isn't your responsibility. It’s time to let it go.
Can you feel the difference between letting go and adding habits?
You’ve probably got some goals kicking around from the new year. Consider what you can let go of to help you move those goals forward. Maybe it’s negative self-talk. Maybe it’s spending time with someone who enables you to stay the same.
Think it over, then take action! Commit!
I’d love to hear in the comments, what are you letting go of?