LETTING GO IS JUST THE BEGINNING
The first Word Of The Year I ever chose (back in 2015) was "Release" because I felt like I was trying to control my world by holding on too tightly to far too many things. I wanted to be able to free myself from the need to have all my ducks in a row and to allow life to happen to me - rather than always pushing through and wanting to know the ending.
I wanted life to be more about the journey, and less about the destination. But there's more to letting go than the action itself, the second part is what it makes room for in our lives...
MAKING ROOM FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE A BETTER FIT
I had the idea of letting go being a two step process brought to my attention a little while ago in a Facebook post from @PositivelyPresent and it inspired me to think about how it had been working out in my own life - what I had released, and what it had made room for.
1. FROM SELF DOUBT TO SELF ACCEPTANCE
I think entering my 60's was a turning point for me - I finally realized that I don't have to prove my worth to anyone, I could be "me" and that was enough. I began to let go of the need to justify how I lived my life, the choices I made, or my beliefs - I could let others be who they are while I could get on with being who I am - less comparisons and more contentment.
2. FROM HEAVINESS TO LIGHTER LIVING
I chose "Live Lightly" as my #WOTY in 2023 because it had been a heavy previous few years for me - I was tired from those awful years in a toxic job, the unsettledness that the pandemic created, an unexpected and unplanned early retirement, and feeling like I was always pushing through; then my left hip failed and I underwent a Total Hip Replacement. I realized that I needed to let go of the weight I'd been carrying, to let myself breathe and just "be" - I needed to make room for a softer way of living.
3. FROM BUSY TO SIMPLER AND SLOWER
One of the biggest life shifts I've made over the last decade has been to slow my life down. I used to live such a busy and bustling and much bigger life, but it wasn't what I wanted anymore, I wanted to let some of the responsibilities and worries go, and to live a life that felt more considered and intentional - to react less and to respond in a more balanced way. Early retirement gave me the opportunity to slow down, to embrace simplicity, and to juggle less balls. Letting go of busyness has given me room to discover what feels meaningful.
4. FROM SCARCITY TO GRATITUDE
The final thought I had about releasing and making room for more, was learning to let go of my scarcity mindset that I'd carried with me throughout my adult life - that need to always be careful with finances, with spending, with saying "no" to anything that felt a little frivolous or fun. The key to moving on from always feeling "less" was to acknowledge that all my frugal living choices had brought us to a place where I could let that tight grip loosen, and I could start to enjoy some of the fruit of our labours. I'm finally able to see how abundant our life is in retirement - we're comfortable, we're content, we're happy and secure - and I'm grateful for that every.single.day. The hard work has paid off, and now I can live with the joy of having enough - not too much, not too little - just the right amount.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Have you noticed that you've let go of old thoughts or habits to make room for newer and better ones? Has the second half of life freed you up to live more abundantly? I'd love to know what you've released to make room for what feels like a better fit.
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Leanne, I learn a lot about you in these reflective posts and I can take heed of some of your life lessons too. Thank you. What I am finding in my mid 70s is that changes are made for me...like energy and motivation ...and I acknowledge them and accept them I can feel more at ease with me. It's been such a big learning curve helping me recover and heal from my big decade, and I take note now of what works for me and what does not. Steering my own boat through the river of life now ...seriously, did I just say that!! Take care and your 1000% of care for and of me really matters too! Denyse x
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