One of the most painful and unavoidable things in life is the act of letting go, of someone or something dear to the heart. But sometimes, letting go of something is better than losing something bigger. The loss of something that had provided us with identity, purpose, comfort or meaning of life is what hurts. I once held onto a dream but as time passed by, circumstances changed. The dream that was once my motto had now become a burden. I held on to it for a very long time, fearing that letting it go would mean losing a part of me. But I had to face the reality- that it was no longer for the person that I was becoming.

 

Giving it away was the right thing to do. Sometimes, we need to let go of who we are. It may be in the form of habits, beliefs, even the way one perceives the world. It is all so important to to evolve as an individual. Growth necessitates change. We change and with that change comes discomfort. Shedding that emotional baggage and healing from it takes time and strength. And then there are emotions we carry with us-pain, anger, terror-that remain even when the source is no longer there. I had to release emotions that initially kept me safe but eventually started doing me damage. Pain doesn’t make us stronger if we continue to hold on to it; releasing it does. The releasing isn’t simple though. It is like opening up a wound, wondering if it will heal after all.

 

Letting go is never instant. It is a process- painful, with flashes of risk when we want to hold on just a little bit longer. But some time later, we start feeling lighter. We realise that letting go has absolutely nothing to do with erasing or forgetting, it has everything to do with embracing and opening up to something else. The hurt of letting go is very real. It scars us. But in that emptiness of nothing, something precious can occur: Knowledge, peace, and one day, hope. Letting go doesn’t shatter us, it moves us towards loving ourselves.