Let the Past Remain In the Past
Yesterday, you made strides in reviving your love life. In that process, you may have gotten stuck in some of your mental baggage from the past. We all do at some point! But today, you’re finally going to let go of the past. Literally.
Today’s exercise consists of three parts, and they are all equally important to the process of letting go of negative events and experiences from the past.
Step 1: Acknowledgement
Go grab your reset notebook and write down all the things that you’re still holding onto from the past year (or even the past 30 years!).
Step 2: Affirmation
For each item on your list, find a way to achieve closure, even if it is a small amount of relief. Think of an affirmation or personal mantra you can apply to the past event that will remove the painful or negative aspect of it and allow you to move on. You can either write them down in your notebook or say them out loud as you go down each item on the list.
Here is an example from my own life:
Past event: A painful breakup with a man that I thought would be my husband.
Affirmation: I’m glad things happened the way they did. When we broke up, I finally became committed to living an authentic life and pursuing what really made me happy. Thank you for letting me go. I can appreciate it now. I am grateful and free.
#31DayReset Day 28: Let Go of the Past
January 28, 2012 | The 31 Days to Reset Your Life Challenge
This post is Day 28 of the January 2012 edition of the 31 Days to Reset Your Life Challenge. I am posting all of the exercises live on a daily basis here on the blog throughout the month. Sign up here to officially join us. To make sure you don’t miss any future assignments, subscribe to the blog here.
Yesterday, you made strides in reviving your love life. In that process, you may have gotten stuck in some of your mental baggage from the past. We all do at some point! But today, you’re finally going to let go of the past. Literally.
Today’s exercise consists of three parts, and they are all equally important to the process of letting go of negative events and experiences from the past.
Step 1: Acknowledgement
Go grab your reset notebook and write down all the things that you’re still holding onto from the past year (or even the past 30 years!). The time frame is up to you. Your list should include bad experiences, failed relationships, arguments with friends and family, people who hurt you, situations you regret, jobs you got fired from, etc. If you want to go back more than a year, you can also include situations from your childhood, people you still have hold grudges against from high school, etc.
Step 2: Affirmation
For each item on your list, find a way to achieve closure, even if it is a small amount of relief. Think of an affirmation or personal mantra you can apply to the past event that will remove the painful or negative aspect of it and allow you to move on. You can either write them down in your notebook or say them out loud as you go down each item on the list.
Here is an example from my own life:
Past event: A painful breakup with a man that I thought would be my husband.
Affirmation: I’m glad things happened the way they did. When we broke up, I finally became committed to living an authentic life and pursuing what really made me happy. Thank you for letting me go. I can appreciate it now. I am grateful and free.
Step 3: Absolution
Leave the Past In the Past
Now, you’re going to destroy your entire list. Tear the page(s) out of your notebook and do the following (and this is very important):
Burn it.
Go outside and do it with a lighter or a match. Stand in front of your stove and do it when you get a moment alone in the kitchen. I don’t care how you burn it, just get rid of that list! And consider this a symbolic “reset ceremony” of starting off the year ahead fresh and unencumbered with your old pain and suffering.
This exercise was another doozie, just as some of the others. I wrote my list and burned that sucker. I discovered that I still had an issue or two, or three with the past. I thought that is was left in the past and a done deal. Well I discovered that I was wrong, but it was revelation.
Because my list was very personal I chose not to share it. I am sure you guys understand.
~31 Days
