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February 24 - March 16, 2023
Once we decouple ourself from the frustrations, regrets, and painful memories that burden us, we experience emotional freedom. It manifests in our behaviors, decisions, and level of self-awareness. It shows in our relationships with loved ones, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. It reveals itself in the quality of our work and the satisfaction we feel from having completed the work. Once we let go of our bleak, defeatist headspace, it can no longer hold us back. Letting it go releases us to focus on the important things that truly matter to us.
Too often, “letting go” is presented as an overly-simplistic, worthless catchphrase that advocates living happily in the absence of stress. That’s unhelpful. It’s akin to telling a stressed-out person to “stop worrying.”
Emotional exhaustion occurs slowly. And because of its gradual escalation, it often goes unnoticed and therefore unmanaged.
In reality, it often stems from stress, anxiety, and regret over a past circumstance that we’re holding on to.
When we fixate on others’ perceptions of us, we implicitly allow them to make our decisions for us. Our life is no longer our own. And our emotional health becomes dependent on what others think of us.
external events usually lie outside our influence. Control over them is largely an illusion.
It takes a lot of energy to remain angry.
And still others try to be perfect in response to their own internal feelings of inadequacy.
We need to be able to observe how we’re feeling and figure out whether these feelings make sense.
When we feel miserable about something we’re having difficulty letting go, it’s common to isolate ourself and wallow in our misery.
Surrendering our ideal self is a process, not merely a decision. It requires giving attention to — and adjusting — certain aspects of our current frame of mind.
