I love this time of year. The trees are starting to bud. Daffodils are everywhere. There is a sense of freshness and renewal in the air. The birds are happy and singing their songs…and so am I! Something within me is beginning to stir and come alive. That’s because Spring is here and you know what that means…it’s time to do some spring cleaning.
Now before I go any further, let me be clear. The type of spring cleaning I am talking about has nothing to do with dusting, vacuuming or cleaning windows, although I could stand to do a little of that around the house but let me stay on track here. (Like how quickly I got off of that subject?) The type of “cleaning house”, purging and letting go I’m talking about is getting rid of the things that keep me stuck and hinder me from shedding losing weight.
I love this quote: “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. When I let go of what I have, I receive what I need.” ~ Lao Tzu
Letting go is cathartic and so necessary if we are to grow and get better. And so, with that let me pull out my broom and start sweeping away the things that are keeping me stuck and blocking my weight loss progress.
10 Things I Am Letting Go Of
1). I’m Letting Go Of Negativity – what you think about you bring about. My life is a blessing. I have so much to be thankful and grateful for. Rather than moaning, groaning and complaining I am making it a practice to count my blessings. I’m choosing to operate from the “glass half full” standpoint. When I look at my life from this perspective the possibilities become endless!
2). I’m Letting Go Of Perfectionism – perfectionism keeps me in a vicious cycle of excuses and stuck in a state of inactivity. I can’t afford that…and neither can you! It closes the door to opportunities for improvement. Perfect is the enemy of good and I am choosing to believe that any good I do for my body is good enough. Who needs to be perfect?
3). I’m Letting Go Of Excuses – excuses are rationalizations that I come up with to make myself feel better about not doing the things I want or need to do for my weight loss or anything else for that matter. Excuses are nothing but glorified lies we tell ourselves. I’m choosing to honor and love myself enough to stop lying to myself.
4). I’m Letting Go Of Procrastination – this is a biggie! I might need some heavy duty cleaning agents to help me get rid of this one! I’m trying to practice this saying I came up with a few years ago. Stop living your life as if you have the rest of your life to live! Instead, I’m learning to live and do in the present moment and get stuff done sooner than later. What helps me to stay on track is to schedule everything. If it’s written down…then I’ll get it done!
5). I’m Letting Go Of The Past – I’m going to leave this one right there…where it belongs…because there is nothing to be gained from living in the past. I am choosing to learn from my mistakes and missteps and then get to steppin’.
6). I’m Letting Go Of Expectations – I really can’t afford to keep this one around! Having unrealistic expectations lead to disappointment and make me feel like all of my hard work was is for nothing. That is a lie I no longer chose to tell myself. I’m going to stop expecting specific results and learn to embrace and appreciate the results that show up. I’m going to keep an open mind and let go of all preconceived notions.
7). I’m Letting Go Of Clutter – what I’ve come to realize is that clutter creates chaos in my mind, body and, spirit, which leaves me feeling overwhelmed, out of control and exhausted. It actually zaps my energy. I am working on clearing the clutter from my life so I can build a firm foundation for continuing my weight loss journey. Why? Well because the process of losing weight is about “letting go” of unhealthy habits, of a sedentary lifestyle and yes, also clutter.
8). I’m Letting Go Of My Comfort Zone – In order for me to grow, I realize I have to step out of my comfort zone and do the very things that make me feel uncomfortable. I have to embrace the notion of being comfortable with being uncomfortable. This is the only way for me to be free to achieve and accomplish more.
9). I’m Letting Go Of Stress – I’ve been working hard on this one. I’ve been doing things that keep me calm and bring me joy. One of the things that really helps me to manage my stress is having my quiet time in the mornings, as I shared in this post. I’m telling you…it has made ALL of the difference in the world! Also by learning to stay in the present, I’m less likely to stress over things that are not in my control. There’s no stress in the present moment. It’s only thoughts of the past and the future that cause anxiety.
10). I’m Letting Go Of Busyness – I’m learning to set all kinds of boundaries to protect my time from both others and myself. I do this by asking, does what you are preparing to do line up with your values and goals? If not, that’s an indication that I am short changing myself and I need to rethink this activity. What this boils down to is making myself and my weight loss a priority.
Your Turn To Share
What baggage are you carrying around? What do you need to let go of so you can be free to grow? Share your comments below.
Nichole says
Great post! I love letting of negative thoughts and clutter. I need to declutter myself. Negative thougts are my natural default setting, but getting better and better and stay in the positive.
Stacey Strickler says
Hi Nichole! Each day is a new day to practice better behavior. Sounds like you are right on track! Stay the course and know that you are not alone! Thanks for stopping by!
Naomi JHardy says
Letting go of shyness!
Stacey Strickler says
Hi Naomi! Yes! That’s a good one! You can do it! Just remember…strangers are friends we just haven’t met yet (in most cases at least). I would encourage you to come up with a plan and take baby steps to meet this goal. Thanks so much for stopping by! You got this!!
Morgan says
For the past month, I’ve been working to let go of clutter. i read the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and I feel like a weight has been lifted. I’m going through the same thing-time to let go of all this baggage that just gets in the way!
Stacey Strickler says
Hey, Morgan! Welcome back! Isn’t it amazing how much clutter and disorganization can weigh us down? And often times we don’t even realize it. I’m going to have to read that book too. Thanks for sharing! Stay focused and keep going. There is so much freedom in letting go. We’ve got this!!
Samantha Taki says
Great post, even though most are easier said than done, lol. I really need to try to let go of expectations. I often plan things out, and then get upset when they don’t go as planned. I am trying to learn to go with the flow, and it’s easier, but it’s still a struggle. Thanks for a list and good luck!
Samantha Taki recently posted…Travel Vaccinations – Worth the Hassle and Expense?
Stacey Strickler says
Hi Samantha! You said a mouthful there. All of these are easier said than done. I have to remind myself constantly to let it go. Letting go of expectations is a hard one for me too. I think with anything it takes practice. The more we’re able to catch ourselves and make a mid-course correction, the better we become at it. Keep working on it until you have it conquered. Thanks for stopping by!
Tina Basu says
I have learnt you have to let go a lot of things in life to find peace. I am ok with it i guess.
Tina Basu recently posted…Celebrate Life – Step 3 to a Meaningful Life – A to Z Challenge 2017
Stacey Strickler says
Hi Tina! I am in total agreement with you! There’s nothing better than peace of mind, which makes it so worth it to just let all of that other junk go. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Isobel says
Very interesting .. I’m writing a series on Change and today’s post was about why we don’t The first part of that Lao Tzu quote is on my FB profile and has been my mantra for years – I didn’t know there was a second part! Thank you for that
Stacey Strickler says
Hi, Isobel! Change is hard, but the consequences of not changing are even harder. I love the Lao Tzu quote too! I’m glad you found the second part of it to be helpful. Thanks for stopping by!