Is it time to let go and move on?

Letting go is about releasing old thoughts and feelings which may be holding you back - negative thoughts and feelings that make you feel sad, angry, guilty, frustrated or helpless.

We can hold on to old thoughts and feelings for all sorts of reasons but often it's when something happens out of our control - the death of a loved one, redundancy, the end of a relationship, an unexpected disability or illness. You may feel guilt for something done or not done, you may feel anger for the injustice of the situation, or you may just feel despair.

Your mind gets stuck in a loop, revolving endlessly around 'what if?' scenarios.

Why?

Think of the loop as your mind trying to find a solution, trying to 'work it out'. This is not a bad thing - your mind is a very powerful tool and can help you do great things. However, constantly churning over problems can lead to a blocked state of mind where you're unhappy, but can't let go or move on. You feel you might eventually resolve the problem if you keep thinking about it. In fact, the opposite is true.

The more you think about something, the less likely you are to resolve it. This is because you are focused on the negative - what's wrong, how painful it is, how angry/frustrated/sad you feel, the hopelessness of the situation.

When you release these negative feelings, you'll find you start to think differently. Possible solutions which you hadn't thought about spring to mind, you'll feel lighter and happier as more positive thoughts start to fill your mind. You may or may not find the answer you're looking for, but you will definitely feel less troubled and more inclined to let go and move on.

Holding onto the past stops you from realising and enjoying what's happening now. You only ever have the present moment - the past is gone and the future isn't here yet. By choosing to live in or re-live the past, you will miss out greatly on what's happening now.

It may seem strange to think of what you're feeling as your choice, particularly if it's painful - but, consciously or subconsciously, you are choosing to feel the way you are.

Treatments such as Thought Field Therapy and The Sedona Method help you release negative emotions quickly and effectively. Rather than re-living the trauma of an event and learning how to cope with it, these new treatments help you to gently let go. You just connect with the problem by thinking about it and then let these powerful techniques help you to a place of calm and peace.

You can hold on to the past and be a prisoner of your emotions, or you can let go and live a happier more fulfilling life. What would you rather do? Remember, the choice is always yours.