The art of letting go

‘Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care for someone anymore. It is just realising that the only person you really have control over is yourself.’ Deborah Reber

In the hustle and bustle of our life, we often believe that remembering the past, the moments that give us joy, leads to happiness. No doubt memories play a significant role in shaping our lives, but a counter-intuitive perception is that the ability to forget certain experiences can surely contribute to a state of happiness.

Being quick to forget is actually the happiest, because letting go of the past can unlock new-found contentment. Being able to let go allows the individuals to get rid of the burden of negative memories, to live in the present, and to let go of regrets, thereby leading to emotional stability.

The art of letting go is not about forgetting or dismissing the unpleasant experience that life throws at us, but about accepting reality with grace and freeing ourselves from the burden of what we cannot change. It is an inner strength that allows us to release control, embrace uncertainty, and trust the unfolding of life.

Embracing the art of letting go helps the individuals to create opportunities for personal growth, resilience, emotional wellbeing and new-found contentment in life. 

Resilience grows out of this practice. By letting go, we make space for renewal, adaptability, and self-discovery. Resilience is not the absence of struggle, but the ability to rise each time we stumble—stronger, wiser, and more grounded.

Together, letting go and resilience form a powerful synergy: one teaches us to loosen our grip on what holds us back, while the other equips us to rebuild, realign, and move forward with courage.

Mastering this balance transforms challenges into stepping stones and endings into beginnings, allowing us to live with clarity, peace, and purpose.

So, in letting go of the past lies the key to happiness and growth. To quote Daphne Rose Kingma, “Holding on is believing that there is only a past; letting go is knowing that there is a future.”