The Paradox of Letting Go
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - 2 minute read
Psychologists have identified a phenomenon known as the paradox of let go, which helps to explain our seemingly irrational behavior.
The paradox of let go states: That we often hold onto things because we're afraid of change, even though letting go is the only way to achieve positive change. In other words, we're afraid of the unknown, even though the known is what's causing us pain.
There's an old saying: “That you can't keep what you don't have”.
And yet, so many of us go through life hanging onto things that we're not really sure we want anymore. We hold onto grudges and resentments, old hurts and slights. We keep going back to the same relationships, even though they don't make us happy. We stay in jobs that we hate, even though we're miserable every day.
Why do we do this?
The paradox of letting go is that, in order to hold onto something, we have to be constantly vigilant and ready to protect it. We have to put our energy into keeping it safe, rather than using that energy to create something new. And ultimately, the thing we're trying to hold onto often slips through our fingers anyway.
So what happens when we let go?
When we let go of the grudges and resentments, the old hurts and slights?
When we let go of the things that are holding us back?
When we let go, we open up space for something new to come into our lives. We allow ourselves to be happier and more content.
We give ourselves the freedom to live our lives the way we want to.
Next time you find yourself clinging to something, ask yourself if it's really worth hanging on to…Chances are, it's not.