Written by: Brandon Luu, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
I went through my mid-30s feeling depression, social disconnect, anger, and lost trust; I was at my lowest consciousness level after years of regret, shame, and guilt, and filled with rage after years of chaos and suffering from my failure in life and business. I finally reached out and wanted to change. Over a decade in mindfulness practice, I discovered what helped me find my inner peace of mental wellness. With the same understanding and wisdom, here are the three most powerful gifts I have used to help my clients to rediscover their natural mental wellness state for years, and I want to share them with you. The path to inner peace involves three powerful natural mental wellness healing gifts: letting go, self-love, and forgiveness. These tools can lead to greater peace, happiness, and fulfillment by improving mental wellness.
First Gift: Why Letting Go of the Past Matters:
Letting go of the past can be compared to clearing out an old closet filled with clutter. Just as the mess in the closet can weigh us down and make it difficult to find what we need, holding onto the past can weigh us down emotionally and mentally, making it difficult to move forward.
Just as we might sort through our closet, deciding what to keep and let go of, we can also sort through our past experiences and emotions, deciding what to hold onto and release. Just as we might donate or discard items we no longer use, we can release negative emotions and experiences from our past that no longer serve us. It sounds easy enough, right? You will first find it with hesitation, resentment, and a little struggle and war. However, it will get easier each time we see the courage to let go, and it takes understanding to recognize that the past no longer exists and is no longer real. It is just our thought connect with our consciousness and make us feel moment to moment that it feels so real at the moment; again, it is not real. It is only a distorted memory.
By clearing out the clutter in our closet, we make space for new things that align with who we are and want to be in the future. Similarly, by letting go of our past, we make space for new opportunities, growth, and experiences that align with our present selves and our future goals.
The past is a significant part of our lives, filled with memories, experiences, and lessons. However, holding onto the past can sometimes hinder our growth, well-being, and happiness. Letting go of the past is crucial for our emotional, mental, and physical health.
Letting go means releasing attachments to the past and allowing yourself to move forward without being held back by negative emotions or experiences. Letting go can involve:
Forgiving yourself and others for past mistakes.
Accepting what cannot be changed.
Focusing on the present and future.
We can become stuck in negative thinking and behavior patterns when we hold onto negative emotions and experiences, such as anger, resentment, and regret; this can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
By learning to let go, we can break free from these patterns and experience greater mental clarity, emotional stability, and overall wellness. Here is why letting go of the past is essential.
Mental and Emotional Well-Being: Holding onto the past can result in rumination, dwelling on adverse events, and constantly replaying past experiences in our minds; this can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Letting go of the past allows us to release the emotional burden, gain mental clarity, and experience greater peace of mind.
Personal Growth and Resilience: Our past experiences, both positive and negative, shape us into who we are today. However, clinging to the past can hinder our ability to grow, evolve, and adapt to new experiences. Letting go of the past opens space for new opportunities, allows us to learn from our mistakes, and fosters resilience in facing challenges.
Present Moment Awareness: Holding onto the past can prevent us from fully experiencing and enjoying the present moment. It can keep us stuck in old thinking and behavior patterns and hinder our ability to be fully present in our relationships, work, and daily life. Letting go of the past enables us to be more mindful and fully engage in the present moment.
Physical Health: Research has shown that holding onto negative emotions and past stress can adversely affect our physical health, including increased risk of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and weakened immune function. Letting go of the past can improve physical fitness and overall well-being.
How to Let Go of the Past
Acknowledge and Accept: The first step in letting go of the past is acknowledging and accepting what has happened. It's essential to allow ourselves to feel the emotions associated with past experiences without judgment or resistance; this can help us process and release the feelings associated with the past.
Shift Perspectives: Changing our perspective on the past can help us let go of it. Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects, we can focus on the lessons learned; the growth achieved, and the positive experiences. Shifting our perspective can bring a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the past.
Focus on the Present: Bringing our attention to the present moment can help us let go of the past. Engaging in activities that bring us joy, practicing mindfulness, and setting goals for the future can shift our focus away from the past and towards the present and future.
Seek Support: Letting go of the past can be challenging, and it's okay to seek support from trusted friends, family members, or even professional help if needed. Talking about our thoughts and feelings can give us a fresh perspective and valuable asset as we work towards letting go of the past. Remember to focus on the present and move toward what you want and where you want to be. No need to reopen the wound. No need to dwell on the past.
Gift Two: Why Forgiveness matter:
Practice Forgiveness: Forgiveness can be compared to a key that unlocks the door to our emotional freedom. We lock ourselves in a dark and cramped room when we hold onto anger and resentment towards ourselves or others. The longer we stay in this room, the more suffocated and trapped we feel.
But when we choose to forgive, we use the key to unlock the door and step out into the open air. We are freeing ourselves from the dark and cramped room of negative emotions and allowing ourselves to breathe in the fresh air of emotional liberation. Forgiveness allows us to release the heavy burden of anger and resentment and walk forward with a lighter heart and a sense of peace.
Forgiveness is not about condoning behavior or forgetting the past but rather about letting go of the emotional attachment and resentment towards the past events or people involved.
Forgiveness can bring a sense of liberation and healing, allowing us to move forward with a lighter heart. Forgiveness means letting go of anger, resentment, and blame towards ourselves or others for past hurts.
We can become trapped in a cycle of negativity and bitterness when we hold onto grudges or refuse to forgive, leading to stress, anxiety, and depression. We can experience greater inner peace, emotional freedom, and improved relationships by learning to forgive ourselves and others.
Forgiveness is a complex process that can take time and effort. Here are some steps you can take to practice forgiveness:
Acknowledge your pain: It's essential to acknowledge your pain before you can forgive. Allow yourself to feel the emotions that come with the hurt, anger, and resentment you may be experiencing.
Understand the situation: Try to understand the problem from the perspective of the person who hurt you. This doesn't mean you excuse their behavior, but it can help you understand why they acted the way they did.
Decide to forgive: Forgiveness is a choice. It's a decision to let go of the hurt and anger and move forward. This doesn't mean you have to forget what happened or condone the behavior, but it does mean you're choosing not to hold a grudge.
Practice empathy: Empathy can help you understand why the person who hurt you acted the way they did. Put yourself in their shoes and try to see the situation from their perspective.
Let go of resentment: Resentment can keep you trapped in the pain and hurt of the past. Letting go of resentment is a crucial step in the forgiveness process.
Communicate your forgiveness: If appropriate, you may communicate your forgiveness to the person who hurt you. This can be done through a conversation, a letter, or even silently in your mind.
Remember, forgiveness is a process that takes time and effort. Be patient and allow yourself to feel the emotions that come up. With practice, forgiveness can become more accessible and lead to healing and growth.
Gift Three: Why Self-Love and Self-Compassion matter:
Just as a garden needs care and attention to grow and thrive, our inner selves need the same care and attention to flourish.
To cultivate self-love, we must first plant the seeds of self-acceptance, patience, and understanding. We must water these seeds with kindness, self-care, and positive self-talk. As we tend to our inner garden, we must also remove any weeds of self-doubt, self-criticism, and negative self-talk hindering our growth.
As our inner garden begins to bloom, we can bask in the warmth and beauty of self-love. We can appreciate our unique qualities and strengths and embrace our flaws and imperfections. And just as we would protect our garden from external threats, we must also protect our inner selves from negative influences that may try to bring us down.
This way, self-love, and self-compassion can be cultivated and nourished like a garden, providing a peaceful and fulfilling sanctuary within ourselves.
Self-love and self-compassion are essential to improving our overall mental wellness and well-being.
Self-love means accepting and valuing yourself unconditionally, without judgment or criticism. When we love ourselves, we are more likely to care for our physical, emotional, and mental health and set boundaries that protect our well-being.
Self-love can involve:
Practicing self-care, such as getting enough rest.
Eating healthy foods.
Engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment.
It can also include cultivating self-compassion or treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding we would offer a good friend.
When we love ourselves, we are more resilient in the face of challenges, more confident in our abilities, and more open to new experiences and opportunities.
We must be kind and compassionate towards ourselves as we let go of the past. We may have regrets or feel guilt or shame, but it's crucial to practice self-compassion and forgive ourselves for any mistakes or shortcomings.
How to Practice Self-love and Self-compassion
Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is being fully present and aware of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment or criticism. By practicing mindfulness, we can become more aware of our negative self-talk and replace it with positive and self-affirming thoughts.
Practice self-care: Self-care involves caring for our physical, emotional, and mental health. This can include getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. When we prioritize self-care, we are sending a message to ourselves that we value and love ourselves.
Be kind to yourself: Treat yourself with kindness and compassion, just as you would treat a good friend. When we are kind to ourselves, we are more likely to feel confident, resilient, and able to cope with challenges.
Challenge negative self-talk: Negative self-talk can harm our mental health and well-being. When we engage in negative self-talk, we can challenge those thoughts and replace them with more positive and self-affirming thoughts.
Practice forgiveness: Forgiving ourselves for past mistakes and shortcomings can help us overcome negative emotions and move forward with peace and acceptance.
Set healthy boundaries: Healthy boundaries with ourselves and others are essential to self-love and self-compassion. This can involve saying no to activities or people that drain our energy and limiting how much we take on at work or in our personal lives.
Cultivate self-acceptance: Accepting ourselves for who we are, our flaws, and all, is an essential aspect of self-love and self-compassion. When we accept ourselves, we are less likely to compare ourselves to others and more likely to feel confident and comfortable in our skin. Remember, self-love and self-compassion are practices that take time and effort to develop. Be patient, and remember that small steps can lead to significant changes over time.
In conclusion, by harnessing the three power gifts of letting go, self-love, and forgiveness, we can return to our natural mental wellness by experiencing greater peace, happiness, and fulfillment. You are your own medicine that heals.
Brandon Luu, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Brandon Luu's business failure led him to explore the uncharted territory between mind, emotions, and behavior. He overcame depression, fear, and anxiety and became a certified life coach specializing in mental wellness. Brandon is a prominent figure in mental wellness, inspiring hope in those facing mental health challenges. Through compassionate and effective coaching, he empowers clients to make positive changes and live their best lives. Brandon's dedication to mental wellness has inspired many, and his message of hope and resilience impacts individuals worldwide.
