Have you ever held onto something for too long? A memory, a mistake, a grudge, or maybe a person who was never meant to stay?

At first, we think holding on will make things better. But the truth? The longer we hold on, the heavier it gets. And sometimes, the only way to find peace is to let go.

Why We Struggle to Let Go

Letting go sounds simple, but it’s not easy. Why? Because we attach meaning to things.

▪️ “If I let go, does that mean it never mattered?”

▪️ “What if I regret it later?”

▪️ “Maybe things will change if I just hold on a little longer.”

But some things in life aren’t meant to be fixed. Some things are meant to be released.

Holding On Hurts More Than Letting Go

Think about carrying a heavy bag for hours. Your arms ache, your shoulders burn, and the longer you hold it, the worse it gets.

But the moment you drop it? Relief.

Emotional weight works the same way. Holding onto pain, regret, or anger doesn’t change the past. it only steals your peace.

Letting Go Doesn’t Mean Forgetting

People think letting go means erasing the past. But that’s not true.

▪️ You can let go of anger and still remember the lesson.

▪️ You can move on from someone and still cherish the good memories.

▪️ You can forgive without allowing the same mistake to happen again.

Letting go isn’t about forgetting. it’s about freeing yourself.

How to Start Letting Go

If something has been weighing on you, maybe it’s time to release it. Here’s how:

1. Accept What You Can’t Change. Not everything has a perfect ending, and that’s okay.

2. Focus on What’s Ahead. If your hands are full of the past, how can you grab the future?

3. Forgive (Even If They Don’t Deserve It). Forgiveness isn’t for them. it’s for you.

4. Trust That You’ll Be Okay. Sometimes, we fear letting go because we don’t know what comes next. But trust this, you will find peace.

Final Thought

Letting go is an act of strength, not weakness. It means choosing peace over pain, freedom over fear.

So if something is weighing you down, maybe today is the day to set yourself free.

Words by Matheesha Prathapa

("Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than hanging on.")

The Art of Letting Go: Why Holding On Hurts More