“Life is a constant balance between holding on and letting go.” – Rumi
What are you holding onto that is no longer serving you? It could be an object you’re keeping in case you need it in the future, clothes that no longer fit you, or maybe a coping mechanism or a relationship that is no longer serving you. Whatever it is, holding on to too much unnecessary ‘stuff’ holds us down, takes a lot of energy, and can keep us feeling stuck. This challenge is about choosing what to hold on to and what to let go.
assess your starting point for this challenge
- Is there anything you can think of that you could let go of?
- How comfortable do you feel about getting rid of things you no longer need?
- Do you find yourself living with a lot of clutter, physically or mentally?
- Growing up, do you remember a lot of clutter in your home?
Tips to help you with this challenge
There is no right or wrong place to start with this challenge. Choose a starting point that feels comfortable for you. Letting go of things can be a very emotional process, as we usually have a reason for holding onto something, even if that reason doesn’t seem relevant anymore. Be gentle with yourself, especially if this is new for you. Some ideas of where you can start are:
- Go through your clothes and donate a few items you haven’t worn for a year or that you know you never wear.
- Go through your kitchen and get rid of gadgets you know you never use.
- Go through your pantry and fridge and get rid of foods you won’t eat.
- Clean out your ‘junk drawer’.
To go a little deeper, you can also work on yourself:
- What are habits that are no longer servings you?
- What are coping mechanisms that are no longer serving you?
Reflect on your journey
- How easy was it for you to go through the challenge?
- Can you see how you could feel ‘lighter’ with a habit of regularly letting go of what is no longer serving you?
- How comfortable do you feel making this a regular habit?
It is important to recognize that in many cases, we carry emotional patterns that no longer serve us without even knowing why. This ’emotional backpack’ comes from a lifetime of experiences and the experiences of others that we have picked up. In some cases, it can be helpful to work with a mental health professional to work through these.