Quotes that Remind You to Let Go
Knowing that you need to let go and actually letting go are two very different things, and sometimes we need all the positive reinforcement we can get. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I frequently use quotes (and affirmations) to proactively remind myself NOT to hold on to the wrong things (ideas, mindsets, etc.) Anytime I catch myself holding on, I pause and read the following quotes (taken from our book and blog archive). Then I take some fresh deep breaths…
Oftentimes letting go is simply changing the labels you place on a situation – it’s looking at the same situation with fresh eyes and an open mind. Truth be told, there is absolutely nothing about your present circumstances that prevents you from making progress, one tiny, mindful step at a time.
Letting go isn’t about having the courage to release the past – it’s about having the wisdom and strength to embrace the present. It’s not about forgetting – it’s about remembering without fear. It’s stepping forward, untethered, with a present mind and a lesson learned.
One of the most rewarding and important moments in life is the moment you finally find the courage to let go of what you can’t change. When you let go of how it “should” be, you ignite the full potential of how it CAN be from this moment forward. Happiness, then, is ultimately letting go of what you think your life is supposed to be like right now and sincerely appreciating it for everything that it is, and making the very best of it. (Angel and I show how in the “Happiness” chapter of 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do Differently.)
Letting go doesn’t mean you don’t care about something or someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only thing you really have control over is your next action in this moment. In most cases, you can’t calm the storm – and it’s not worth trying. What you can do is calm yourself, and collect yourself, and the storm will pass.
To let go is to be thankful for the experiences that made you laugh, made you cry, and helped you learn and grow. It’s the acceptance of everything you have, everything you once had, and the possibilities that lie ahead. It’s all about finding the strength to embrace life’s changes, to trust your intuition, to learn as you go, to realize that every experience has value, and to continue taking positive steps forward.
You don’t have to have it all figured out to move forward. Just do the best you can until you know better. Once you know better, do better. Make gradual growth a daily ritual. This is how life-changing momentum is built. It feeds on itself, one small step at a time. Make an effort to begin, and as you start moving forward it takes less and less effort to sustain. (Angel and I build small, life-changing daily rituals with our students in the “Goals and Growth” module of Getting Back to Happy.)
As you take the next step, and the next, your greatest defense against stress, frustration and defeat is your inherent ability to choose one thought over another. Remember this. If you look for reasons to be disheartened – if you look for reasons to give up and give in – you’ll find plenty of them. Look instead for reasons to be positive, and see them everywhere. Then carry on.