Letting Go Is Hard

There are many things in life that are easy, but letting go is not one of them. Letting go is hard.

Throughout our life we must let go of many things. Old ideals that no longer serve their purpose need to be kicked to the curb, but for many, this can be hard. A way of life that is known seems safe, offering comfort. It is not always the case. Some stay because they are familiar and end up putting themselves in danger. Change takes one into the land of the unknown.

Here’s the secret. It is all unknown, even when we think otherwise. Tomorrow has yet to happen, and many things may occur that will cause a shift in the pattern. It is never promised, nor guaranteed. This leaves us with the opportunity for change, but only if we are willing to let go and embrace a new path.

Clinging to things can choke the life out of us, or someone else. Look at trees that were once healthy and vibrant, yet died because a crawling, clawing vine covered and smothered them. Perhaps they thought, how beautiful are the leaves that cling to me, but soon they found it hard to breathe, to grow. Eventually, they gave way, gave up, and died. Don’t let this happen to you. Recognize when you are holding on too tightly to something. So tightly, in fact, that it chokes out other worthwhile things, moments, or people. Let go.

The hardest thing to let go of is people, at least for me. I will always give people a second chance, and a third, because I have a hope that things will get better. Even when it is to my detriment, I try, and then I try again. How easy for some to say, “walk away,” yet how hard it really is, especially when you love someone. The reality, though, is that the love becomes unhealthy, bitter and twisted, contorting you in ways you were not meant to bend. If we can’t recognize when it is time to let go, we get injured, often in more than one way.

There are other ways we need to let go in order for others and ourselves to flourish. Letting go of a fear of failure is one of them. We must be brave and step into our challenges, rather than away from them. If people had not faced their fear of failure, so many things we enjoy today would not exist. Arts, technology, recipes, relationships that bore leaders and prophets. So much we enjoy, because someone was not afraid to let go of the thought that it was not possible, and ventured forward.

It is definitely easier to say than to do, but if we are to bloom and grow as we are meant to, we must learn to let go. Understand that it is not easy, nor comfortable, but do it anyway. When we do this, we acknowledge that letting go is hard, but it is worth it, and we move forward. Blessings.

Free inspirational or motivational posts can be found on the inspirational page of Leslie’s website.