“Letting go gives us freedom and freedom is the only condition for happiness.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Letting go of the past might be one of the hardest things you do. It’s hard to do because the need to hold on is rooted in fear.

The thought of not having control over your circumstances – past, present or future – can be terrifying. Even when the warning signs are clear, you continue to think that if you try harder to do everything right; and hold on as tightly as you can, then you will have what you want.

But, by dwelling in the past where these mistakes live, you don’t see the beauty of the present moment.

Letting go makes you stronger and more peaceful. It allows you to focus on what you need to do to live in the here and now. In addition to strengthening your faith, there are some other important life-changing reasons to let go of the past and embrace the beauty of the present moment – the miracle of today.

1. Never alone again
When you surrender your life, you are asking God to be an active part of it. Even though He is always there, it is your acknowledgment of the relationship that makes it real and tangible.

2. You might just find what you are seeking
If what you are doing is not yielding desired results, try surrendering it. You might find what you have been looking for has been hiding in plain sight all along.

3. Certainty of purpose
When you surrender you are telling God that you want to live the life He has in mind for you. Although you may not know exactly what that life looks like when surrendering, you can be certain it is a life created just for you. Your purpose will be clearer when the clutter is removed.

4. Deeper appreciation of the ordinary moments
Your determination to get whatever you think you need could gloss over the life that is unfolding right around you. Surrender offers freedom, not defeat. Letting go frees you to see the special gifts that are already a part of your life.

5. Live a want to life, not a have to life.
Letting go gives you the ability to live a life you want to live; not a life you have to live. Your want to life can be full of joy and fulfillment because it is better connected to your heart’s desire.

6. Learning from the experience
Full surrendering takes practice. To gain experience, try surrendering small things, first. You can start by surrendering some bad habits like biting your fingernails, having one drink too many or constant engagement with your Smartphone.

7. Trade shame for grace
Asking for grace can be difficult. You may have learned from an early age that you are not worthy of love or compassion. You may have allowed shame to cover you until it has built up such a presence you begin to think it is a natural part of you. Letting go of shame allows grace to be restored to your conscious mind.

8. Finding peace
There is no right way to let go. Faith isn’t tangible and it really isn’t measureable. Faith catches you when you are open to change. A leap of faith happens when you let go and allow your plan to unfold. It may feel like chaos at first, but soon a soothing peace will begin to swell when your inner voice tells you that you are going in the right direction.

About Alex Blackwell

Alex Blackwell is a father, husband and writer. He writes about inspiring things at The BridgeMaker.
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