When we have difficulty letting go of something, it’s often because we believe it was meeting one of our needs. For example, a failed relationship was providing love and companionship. A failed business was providing a sense of accomplishment, which in turn boosted our self-confidence. Others’ expectations gave us a sense of personal value. This perception is often misguided (which we’ll get to in a moment), but we believe it to be true. Until we recognize and acknowledge the delusion, it may as well be true. Ultimately, it makes us less inclined to let go of whatever is burdening us.
