Hugs and Happiness: Why Sometimes Letting Go Makes Us Happier

Take a moment to answer this question.

What are you attached to?

We can become attached to many things.

We will naturally become attached to people. After all, we are social beings and we find comfort in being with other people.

We can become attached to our possessions. This may be because they have sentimental value, which means they hold emotional significance.

We can become attached to places. This may be a family home or a favourite place to visit, which provokes certain feelings and memories.

We can become attached to ideas and beliefs. We can become strongly attached to beliefs, values or ideologies, which influence our thoughts and behaviours and how we interact with others.

Now tell me, how does it feel when these things are hurt, damaged or questioned?

How does it influence the way you behave and respond?

What emotions does it trigger?

What does it take away from you?

Your answers are personal to you and only you know whether the way you view your attachment is serving you.

How about letting go?

If you feel that they’re not serving you and you’re ready to let go then here are 5 practices that will help you.

Accept what you can’t control

There are things in life that you cannot change. And yet, we insist on getting tied up in knots trying to control them.

What are the things in your life that you know you have no control over yet still provoke a reaction? You will, no doubt, use up valuable energy and time, which in the end you will see was wasted.

Once you accept what you cannot change, life will feel a lot simpler and easier.

Stop making assumptions

As humans, we spend far too much time filling in the gaps by making assumptions. Uncertainty is uncomfortable so we make things more certain by making assumptions.

Think of the last time you made an assumption. Being right or wrong is irrelevant. What is relevant is the amount of time you spent deciding what to assume and the emotions you went through to get there.

Was it worth it?

Or, would it have been better if you’d just accepted what you knew to be true and left it at that?

Forgive and move on

In simple terms, forgiving is about letting go of the bad feelings so that you can move on. It is not about forgetting or saying that what has happened is right or wrong.

Holding onto negative emotions harms us and not the individual who we believe has done wrong. It acts as an obstacle that means we cannot move forward.

Progress can only be made when you allow yourself to let go and forgive.