Have you noticed that it has become increasingly difficult to “let things go?” If not, you were probably too busy growing up to notice this transformation. As we mature into adults, the relationships that we form become a lot more complicated but meaningful. We’ve all found ourselves sometimes in deep thought, asking questions like “How could something so small tear us apart?” or “Where are these feelings coming from?”
As we develop intellectually, we explore new dimensions of human interaction. The relationships we form take on deeper meanings. I am sure most of us remember those days when being someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend meant sharing your cookies with that person for the duration of the relationship. It was a really sweet deal if you ask me. So why do we trade in such a simplistic agreement for more complicated relationships? In my opinion (and from texts that I read), as we develop, the human need for contact increases, pushing us to form stronger and more meaningful bonds with the people that we interact with. This need forces us to be prepared to answer the following question: “How do I let things go?”
One of the toughest things to do in our human lives is to let things go. Our ability to let things go comes into play in situations like the breakup after that long relationship of three years, that heated argument that caused tension to rise to an unbearable level, or the loss of one of the closest people to us. Many times, we are so deeply upset that our minds are forced to focus on that particular event. It makes us feel as though we have lost the ability to move on with life.
Unfortunately, life was not built to be simple. The fear of failure, rejection, and loneliness are a few of the obstacles that can put us on freeze and prevent our mental engines from running smoothly. Although it may sound lame (for lack of a better term), we have the ability to choose to not let things affect us. If we perceive harsh events as learning experiences, we can lessen the damaging impacts they can have on our psyche. In other words, if you truly believe that being cheated on is a learning experience that will lead you to your perfect mate, you won’t let that experience hold you back. Of course mastering this is more difficult than it may seem.
Another technique to help you move on is to occupy your time with other activities. The human experience really lends a hand with this technique because of the many things we can explore in this world. If luck allows it, you may discover something that you were unable to see before. If we dwell on things for long periods of time, we may see that it negatively affects the people around us. Learning how to let things go aids in learning how to forgive and how to arise from despair—some of the few skills that every student should be equipped with if they plan on entering the real world.
