This time of year like many, I am thinking about what my New Year's Resolutions for 2022 will be. Looking back on uncompleted resolutions from last year I realized something: I needed to let go to move forward with my goals. 

By holding onto my ideals of what my career, my health, and my mindset should be, I limited myself from making progress towards my goals in 2021. I thought I had finished going through the process of letting go in fall of 2020.

Nope.

I have come to see that letting go is not a one time thing. It’s a cyclical process, especially with chronic illness. When I get a new health diagnosis or flare up, I get interlaced in the web of having to figure out how to manage it. When new events or job offers come up, I am saddened by what I cannot do. I grab onto things that I need to let go of in my life to stay balanced.

I remind myself that letting go is a cyclical process when feelings about my past resurface. Feelings can be so deeply ingrained that it takes multiple times of letting it go to move forward. For me, this is my feeling of failure about having to drop out of a PhD program due to my worsening health. It is feeling defeated each time I am reminded of the opportunities I had to step away from in my career as a PT because of my health.

 To move forward, I have to let go again.

What has helped me navigate through these cycles of letting go? 

I recognize and accept that my feelings are there. I let them be present. 

I realize that my feelings resurfaced because I have not fully let go of them yet.

I give myself grace knowing my feelings are associated with a big part of my life and run deep.

I accept new challenges and let them go as they come.

I remind myself that I need to continue to let go to have peace. 

I  remember that letting go is not giving up.

 Letting go is part of finding resilience for wellness. 

So this year my New Year’s resolution is to consciously let go of the past and things I cannot control each day to embrace the present moment and live fully.

What do you need to let go of to move forward with your New Year's resolutions?

Book a free health consultation with me to help yourself let go of the past, embrace the present, and reach your wellness goals.