5 Ways to Release What’s Holding You Back
Sometimes the past has a way of pressing play on its own. One memory, one moment, and suddenly you’re back there—reliving what you wish had gone differently. Your mind replays the scene while your heart holds on a little tighter, hoping it might make more sense the second time around.
I know that feeling too well. Holding on feels safer than facing what comes next. Familiar pain can trick us into thinking it’s comfort. But here’s the truth: the longer you cling to what hurt you, the more it weighs you down. Letting go isn’t about erasing the past—it’s about releasing the grip it has on your peace.
If you’re ready to stop living in replay mode and start making peace with your story, this is your invitation to begin again.
1. Emotional Decluttering: Make Room for What’s Next
Just like a cluttered room, your heart can hold too much at once—old pain, guilt, resentment, and unspoken feelings. When you don’t process those emotions, they start running the show.
Try this: sit in stillness and ask yourself, “What am I still carrying that doesn’t serve me anymore?” Write every answer down without judgment. Maybe it’s a person. Maybe it’s a version of yourself. Maybe it’s something you never said out loud.
Decluttering emotionally means deciding that peace matters more than control. You don’t have to fix every broken piece—you just need to release what’s keeping you from seeing your growth.
2. Writing to Release: Let the Page Hold What You Can’t
When words feel too heavy to say, let your pen carry them instead. Writing is one of the most powerful tools for emotional release—it’s where healing begins in silence.
Start by journaling through your emotions. Don’t censor, don’t edit. Write the truth.
A few powerful prompts to begin:
What am I afraid to let go of, and why?
What lesson did this pain teach me?
What would I say if I could speak without fear or pride?
Your story doesn’t lose its meaning when you write it down—it gains freedom. Each word on the page is a piece of weight lifted off your heart.
Try using a guided healing journal—I recommend this one for its reflective prompts and soothing design.
3. Affirmations for Peace: Rewire Your Inner Dialogue
You can’t heal while you’re speaking to yourself like the villain of your story. Letting go begins with gentler words—ones that remind you you’re worthy of peace even after the storm.
Try saying these aloud each morning or write them on sticky notes where you’ll see them:
I release what no longer serves my growth.
I forgive myself for what I didn’t know then.
Peace is my new home.
I trust that what’s meant for me won’t pass me by.
Affirmations help retrain your mind to choose calm over chaos. When you speak healing into your life daily, your body eventually believes it.
Pair this with a calming candle or self-help book like “Letting Go” by David R. Hawkins for deeper practice.
4. Forgiveness: The Ultimate Freedom
Forgiveness isn’t saying what happened was okay—it’s saying you’re done letting it control you.
You can forgive someone and still protect your peace. You can forgive yourself and still be learning. True forgiveness is releasing the emotional grip that keeps you stuck in survival mode.
If you struggle with this, try writing a “letter of release.” You don’t have to send it. Just write everything you wish you could say, then tear it, burn it (safely), or fold it away. Let the act symbolize your freedom.
5. Reconnecting with the Present
When you’ve carried the past too long, the present can feel blurry. Healing happens when you start noticing what’s here—right now.
Look around you. Feel your breath. Touch something soft. Light that candle. Play that song that makes you feel alive. Every time you bring yourself back to this moment, you remind your mind that this is where your peace lives now.
Takeaway: Letting Go Is an Act of Love
Letting go isn’t a single moment—it’s a daily choice to stop reopening the wound. It’s waking up and saying, “I deserve to feel light again.”
So start small: journal your truth, speak peace over yourself, forgive gently, and breathe deeply. You’re not losing who you were—you’re creating space for who you’re becoming.
If you’re ready to go deeper, download my free Healing Starter Guide—packed with 100 reflective prompts, an emotion log, and daily tools to help you move from holding on to healing.
Because your story deserves peace, and so do you.
