In the last quarter of 2020, I came to the realization that I have not learned how to live in the present. Instead, I overanalyze to be prepared. The way I do this is by focusing on another person’s words, actions, and inactions, and drawing conclusions. Next, I consider the conversation I need to have and what I need to say based on what I have decided is the problem.
Does it work?
No. Yet I continued to utilize this, my primary, mode of dealing with life.
It was all I knew how to do, but as I began to pay attention to those times I started to overanalyze, I realized that doing so prevented me from being fully present. I was always in my mind, telling myself how to act, how to think, what I should say, and what I believed was unsaid.
Seriously, I missed so much of genuine living because my overanalyzing was always governed by my emotions only. It was time to let this go.
Letting go means releasing those things that are not allowing you to grow, that are not allowing you to continue becoming the best version of yourself and living the life you deserve. Yes, we are facing challenges daily due to this pandemic and the economic effects it has caused, among other things. But we must release those things outside of our control to work on those things we can control.
Living your best life means doing the self- focused, in-depth searching of our inner selves. This takes work and serious thought. It is not a quick fix. I started my process back in November and had my list ready by the end of December. I need to let go of overanalyzing the words and actions of others, of letting my fears and doubts affect how I see myself and the decisions I make. I need to let go of my habit of procrastination and just do. I need to stop making allowances for how others treat me, to stop keeping my silence, yet resenting the way my feelings are not being considered. I also need to let go of my habit of making impulsive decisions that end up derailing the best life I want to live.
You will, of course, have your own ideas of what letting go means for you. Taking an honest look at ourselves, the things we do, say, and think, is especially important and something we should do continually. My goal is to make meaningful changes in myself that propel me forward, not falling back into old ways of thinking and doing that profit me nothing.
What do you need to let go?