It’s a new year and just about everyone you come in contact with is either talking about resolutions or discussing what they are leaving behind in the rear-view mirror of last year. The kicker is that when we discuss the desire for inviting new things the biggest challenge is almost always leaving the old or the outdated behind to make room for the new, we profess to be ready to pursue.
It would be great if we could simply open our hands to receive the next big thing like an outfielder under a highly anticipated fly ball.
If there is no owner’s manual, write it.
However, getting to the place where it’s time to let go can come with a flood of unexpected emotions. No matter if we are ready to let go or even if we know it’s the best thing to do, letting go can leave us immobilized.
If you want to maximize your capacity for receiving new things try these three steps on for size:
– Take inventory: What and who has shown that it may no longer be a good fit for your life and where it’s going? Ask yourself why it’s still part of your life and what might be a better fit if you released this current thing.
– Take charge: After you’ve identified what needs to be removed or rebooted take steps toward letting go. This requires a plan of action. I recommend a visualization exercise where you imagine yourself opening your hand to release what no longer works for you while simultaneously catching what is ready to be yours with that same, newly empty, open hand.
– Take action: Once you’ve begun the journey to embrace what is new, find out what is required of you. If there is an owner’s manual, read it. If there is no owner’s manual, write it. The more you understand your new resolutions the sooner you feel new.
Are you a little uncertain about how to take inventory, charge, and action? Then you might want to read my blog How-To Method for Easy Choices that gives you the reasons why you should analyze the benefits and the consequences of your decisions.
Feeling ready for a new start, but feeling stuck in the old spot? Contact Tanyika Moore Healing Arts at tanyikamoorehealingarts.com for help with letting go of those old behaviors that may be holding you emotionally hostage.
By: Tanyika Moore, MA LMFT
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