One thing that connects us as human beings is our ability to feel pain. Whether that pain is physical or emotional, we all have experiences of being hurt. What separates us though, is how we deal with that pain. Studies show that when emotional pain prevents you from healing from a situation, it’s a sign that we aren’t moving forward in a growth-oriented way.One of the best ways to heal from hurt is to learn lessons from the situation and use those to focus on growth and forward momentum. If we get stuck in thinking about what “should have been,” we can become immobilized in painful feelings and memories.
If you’re trying to move forward from a painful experience, but you’re not sure how to get started, here are 12 tips to help you let go.
1. Create a positive mantra to counter the painful thoughts
How you talk to yourself can either move you forward or keep you stuck. Often, having a mantra that you tell yourself in times of emotional pain can help you reframe your thoughts.
For example, instead of getting stuck in the, “I can’t believe this happened to me!” habit, try a positive mantra such as, “I am fortunate to be able to find a new path in life — one that is good for me.”
2. Create physical distance
It’s not uncommon to hear someone say that you should distance yourself from the person or situation that is causing you to be upset.Creating physical or psychological distance between ourselves and the person or situation can help with letting go for the simple reason that we are not having to think about it, process it, or being reminded of it as much.
3. Do your own work
Focusing on yourself is important. You must make the choice to address the hurt that you’ve experienced. When you think about a person who caused you pain, bring yourself back to the present. Then, focus on something that you’re grateful for.
4. Practice mindfulness
The more we can bring our focus to the present moment, the less impact our past or future has on us.When we start practicing being present, our pain has less control over us, and we have more freedom to choose how we want to respond to our lives.
5. Be gentle with yourself
If your first response to not being able to let go of a painful situation is to criticize yourself, it’s time to show yourself some kindness and compassion. This islike treating ourselves the way we would treat a friend, offering ourselves self-compassion, and avoiding comparisons between our journey and those of others.Hurt is inevitable, and we may not be able to able to avoid pain.However, we can choose to treat ourselves kindly and lovingly when it comes.
6. Allow the negative emotions to flow
If you’re fear of feeling negative emotions is causing you to avoid them, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In fact, often people are afraid of feelings such as grief, anger, disappointment, or sadness.Rather than feeling them, people try to shut them out, which can disrupt the process of letting go. These negative emotions are like riptides. Let them flow out of you. It may require mental health intervention, but fighting them alone can be overwhelming and can leave you feeling stuck.
7. Accept that the other person may not apologize
Waiting for an apology from the person who hurt you will slow down the process of letting go. If you’re experiencing hurt and pain, it’s important you take care of your own healing, which may mean accepting that the person who hurt you isn’t going to apologize. Primarily we need to focus on cleaning up our side of the street.
8. Engage in self-care
When we are hurting, it often feels like there is nothing but hurt. Practicing self-care can look like setting boundaries, saying no, doing the things that bring us joy and comfort, and listening to our own needs first.The more we can implement self-care into our daily lives, the more empowered we are. From that space, our hurts don’t feel as overwhelming.
9. Surround yourself with people who fill you up
This simple yet powerful tip can help carry you through a lot of hurt.We can’t do life alone, and we can’t expect ourselves to get through our hurts alone. Allowing ourselves to lean on loved ones and their support is avery effective, and wonderful, way of not only limiting isolation but of reminding us of the good that is in our lives.
10. Give yourself permission to talk about it
When you’re dealing with painful feelings or a situation that hurt you, it’s important to give yourself permission to talk about it. Sometimes people can’t let go because they feel they aren’t allowed to talk about it. This may be because the people around them no longer want to hear about it or [the person is] embarrassed or ashamed to keep talking about it.But talking it out is important. Finding a friend or therapist who is patient and accepting, as well as, willing to be your sounding board.
11. Give yourself permission to forgive
Since waiting for the other person to apologize can stall the process of letting go, you may have to work on your own forgiveness.Forgiveness is vital to the healing process because it allows you to let go of anger, guilt, shame, sadness, or any other feeling you may be experiencing, and move on.
12. Seek professional help
If you’re struggling to let go of a painful experience, you may benefit from talking to a professional such as Can-Am. Sometimes it’s difficult to implement these tips on your own, and you need an experienced professional to help guide you through the process.
The takeaway
To let go of the past hurts, you need to make the conscious decision to take control of the situation. However, this can take time and practice. Be kind to yourself as you practice refocusing how you see the situation and celebrate the small victories you have. Can-Am Interventions can assist any individuals that struggle with letting go. By speaking with one of our representatives, we will be able to provide the answers to your questions and will formulate a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
For More Information:
E: patti.pike@canaminterventions.com
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415-827-3725 Cell /Text
415-578-2875 Office