10 Types Of Attachments To Let Go Of In 2024
As we approach the New Year, we will reflect on our past and envision what we want for the future. If there’s one thing you can do to enter 2024 on a lighter note, it’s let go.
It’s not easy to simply “let things go.” However, learning how to release any attachments is crucial for not only our well-being but also our personal growth.
Here are the attachments you should let go of going into 2024:
Material Possessions
When you are dependent on things, you are ultimately attached to the idea that external factors and material possessions are what make you happy. Detaching from physical objects can be challenging, especially if you’ve clung to them for so long and so deeply. But by releasing any attachment to objects, you can free up space physically and mentally and it will give you the opportunity to practice gratitude, too.
Past Mistakes
Dwelling on the past and every mistake you’ve made won’t get you anywhere. In fact, doing so can really stunt your personal growth. If you want to move forward, you have to let go of the guilt you’re harboring and forgive yourself. By working through this with the help of a therapist, you can then move forward and work towards bettering yourself and righting any wrongs.
Expectations
When you set high expectations for yourself, you are ultimately leading yourself down a path of disappointment. While having a strong desire to improve is admirable, putting that kind of pressure on yourself to meet unrealistic expectations for yourself is incredibly unhealthy. By being so hard on yourself in this way, you’re going to feel disappointed in yourself and you’ll convince yourself that you weren’t (good, smart, strong, or capable) enough–and that is simply not true.
Letting go of these rigid, unrealistic expectations will make you feel lighter. Give yourself grace.
Control
When you have diagnosed anxiety, you can’t help but attach to the idea of being in or out of control. It’s incredibly challenging to let go of things you cannot control, but that desire will just continue to cause stress, anxiety, and fear. Let go of the need for control. Embrace uncertainty. You’ll find a greater peace of mind if you try.
Negative Thoughts
According to the Law of Attraction, our thoughts become things. What you think about, you bring about.
If you’re constantly thinking negative thoughts–assuming and expecting the worst or self-destructive criticism–you will evidently attract that negativity into your life. For example, if you think and tell yourself that you’re ugly, unloved, and going nowhere in life, you will ultimately present yourself as someone who is ugly, unloved, and going nowhere in life. It’s hard to not think negatively when all you feel is negative, and that bad energy radiates off you.
If you’re thinking positive thoughts and speaking positive words of affirmation to yourself, you will then radiate that positive, beautiful energy. Letting go of self-destructive criticism and negative thoughts is incredibly challenging, but cultivating a positive mindset (which is different from toxic positivity) can impact your overall mental health and well-being.
Relationships
Holding on to toxic or unhealthy relationships can not only hinder your personal growth, but it can be detrimental to your well-being too. There are some people we aren’t meant to be with forever, romantically or platonically. By letting go of the relationships and friendships that no longer serve you or that disrupt your peace, you can then make space for yourself and for people who are right for you.
Grudges
Some people find it easy to forgive and forget. Some people find it easy to forgive but not forget. And some people can’t do either–and that’s called a grudge.
People will hurt us and wrong us and oftentimes, the resentment we feel and the grudges we hold are justified. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the healthiest thing. It’s emotionally draining, holding on to so much anger, frustration, and hurt.
Practicing forgiveness is incredibly difficult, but it is, without a doubt, better and more important for your mental and emotional health. Remember: karma works in mysterious ways. Let go of grudges and let karma do its thing.
Validation from Others
If you’re looking for validation from others, you essentially have low self-esteem and self-worth. You’re valuing others’ opinions and approval of you more than your opinion and approval of yourself. Letting go of the need for that external validation is challenging, but when you do, it’s incredibly empowering.
Ideas of Perfection
Much like setting unrealistically high expectations for yourself is unhealthy, trying to achieve “perfection” is just the same.
Striving to be “perfect” in every aspect of your life can be exhausting and frankly, unattainable. Stop being so hard on yourself. No one is perfect. You will never be perfect. Your life will never be perfect. Who you are and what you have is more than enough–don’t forget that.
Fear of Change
When we are comfortable somewhere–in a job, in a relationship, in a location–oftentimes we can get complacent. We don’t feel fulfilled, but we convince ourselves that we do anyway. This is as good as it’s going to get, we say, but that is far from true.
There’s always something greater and better out there for us. By being comfortable and complacent, we essentially fear change. We fear growth. We fear disrupting the peace. We fear the unknown.
But letting go of our fear of change allows for greater things to come into our lives. We learn how to adapt, how to be more resilient, and how to let go of things that are essentially not serving us.