3 Things I Am Letting Go Of This Month

In the relentless flow of life, we often find ourselves caught up in a whirlwind of activities, responsibilities, and commitments. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years, all while we carry the weight of our past and the burden of our unexamined present. It's easy to forget that to move forward authentically and achieve our goals, we must pause, reflect, and let go of whatever no longer serves us. This month, as I engage with the SHED coursework alongside my clients,  I am embrace the liberating practice of letting go.  One of my core beliefs are that we are all always growing and learning, we are all teachers and students.  Therefore, in my courses, I work alongside my clients.  I am both guide and student.  This September, here are the three things I'm releasing from my life with the help of the SHED coursework.

1. My addiction to doing
2. Weight
3. My (unhelpful) inner-narrative about a past situation

My addiction to doing

Letting go of my addiction to doing is going to allow me to build a more balanced and healthy life. Not only does our society glorify busyness and place a premium on productivity, but I am still healing a poverty wound from my childhood (you can read my story here), so I have found myself addicted to constantly doing in an attempt to stay safe, secure and respected. Mentally, I understand that "doing" is not the best tool to use to create safety and respect in my life, but there are 3 ways to "know" something, and I need to pull my knowing from a level 2 (emotional) to a level 3 (modus operandi). Additionally, because I am so incredibly passionate about my work, I can easily find my neurodivergent brain hyper focusing on it for long hours.  While this brings me a ton of joy, I recognize that in order to be the person I want to be, my life (and my focus) has to be more multidimensional and balanced.

Letting go of this addiction will require a shift in mindset and a commitment to prioritize my mental and emotional well-being. It involves time and dedication to meditation, reflection, and journaling as I investigate my values and needs in order to discover the "key" to realigning my internal "story".  My updated story will allow me to embrace moments of stillness, self-care, and relaxation as just as important as accomplishing tasks. This shift will allow me to increase my self-awareness, improve my mental health, and achieve greater overall happiness.
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If you struggle with over-doing, I invite you to join me in SHEDing this addiction. When we let go of the addiction to doing, we create space for reflection, creativity, and self-discovery. We allow ourselves to reconnect with our passions, values, and the things that truly matter to us. It's an opportunity to cultivate a more mindful and purposeful life where we savor each moment rather than rushing through them. Ultimately, the journey to release this addiction can lead us to a more authentic and fulfilling existence where we find contentment in simply being ourselves, free from the constant need to prove our worth through ceaseless activity.

Weight

Letting go of excess weight on our bodies is a journey that extends beyond just shedding physical pounds; it's about reclaiming our health, self-confidence, and overall well-being. Carrying excess weight can take a toll on both our physical and emotional health, but the process of shedding it can be a transformative and empowering experience.

For me, as I go into middle age (I'm 44), and I manage health issues (brain tumor) and medication for those health issues (that cause weight gain), I find myself trying to lose weight for the first time in my life.  This is a new journey for me, and one that I'm excited about. 

For me, it's not just about aesthetics but primarily about my health. I like to feel like my body is an asset to me in my choices.  To the greatest extent possible, I want to be able to do whatever I want to do and not be limited by my body's capabilities (fitness and health).  For me, it is about taking control of my life and making choices that promote longevity and vitality. It's about freeing myself from the physical limitations that extra weight can impose and giving myself the opportunity to live a life filled with energy and vitality.

As an NFPT Personal Trainer and Health Coach, I know that the journey to letting go of excess weight involves adopting sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes. I am focusing on cultivating healthier habits that I can maintain over time. I'm also doing experiments to discover exactly how my body responds to different foods so that I can optimize my diet. 

The process of shedding excess weight also requires a shift in mindset. While this can include fostering self-compassion and embracing a positive self-image, for me it is primarily about my priorities and allowing diet and exercise to take up more of my time and energy every single day.  If you're interested in following my journey on this topic, stay tuned as I work through the SHED curriculum throughout the rest of September! 

My Story (about people not liking me)

The annual SHED course begins by assessing where you are "leaking" energy, where you feel constricted, and where you encounter sadness, stress or other heavy vibration feelings in your life.  When I did my examination, I realized that there was a past situation in my life where I was holding on to a story that was not serving me.  In fact, it was causing quite a leak in my energy field. 

Because I've done this work for over a decade, this is not the first time that I've had to let go of a similar story.  For me, it comes up sometimes and, gratefully, I have the tools to know how to manage it in my life and return to my most wild and free self. 

Often, we construct narratives in our minds that are not necessarily grounded in reality, and these stories can have a detrimental impact on our self-esteem and relationships. The story that people don't like us/respect us/value us is a common one, and can stem from various sources, including past experiences, insecurities, or misinterpretations of social cues. However, it's crucial to remember that our perception isn't always an accurate reflection of how others truly feel about us. People's thoughts and feelings are complex, and their thoughts, beliefs and behaviors (including their opinions about us) ultimately describe them, not us. While it is easy to mentally understand this, living it is much more challenging.  

If you are looking to change your story regarding how people think about you, you have two options.  You can "check out reality" with the person and discover their actual thoughts and feelings - or you can change the story that you are telling yourself about the person and/or situation. I am going to be doing the latter one, changing my story.  If you're interested in changing your story about a particular person or situation, download my DIY Coaching Course, The Stories We Tell Ourselves for a step-by-step guide to changing your stories. I'll also be posting another blog next week showing my personal step-by-step process in changing my story on this particular situation. 

Letting go of what no longer serves us is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey. It's an act of self-compassion and a commitment to living authentically. Authentic living is about aligning our actions, choices, and beliefs with our true selves. It's the key to achieving our goals, finding genuine happiness, and experiencing lasting peace.
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When we let go of old habits, toxic relationships, and the fear of failure, we create space for the authentic self to flourish. We become more in tune with our desires, values, and passions. This alignment empowers us to set meaningful goals and pursue them with unwavering dedication. Authenticity becomes a guiding principle, leading us towards a life that resonates with our innermost aspirations.

Taking time every year to review our lives and let go of what no longer serves us is a profound act of self-love and self-discovery. It is the authentic living path, a journey towards becoming our truest selves. As we shed the weight of old habits, toxic relationships, and fear, we make room for our authentic selves to shine through. With authenticity as our compass, we can navigate the twists and turns of life, achieve our goals, and experience unparalleled joy and peace. So, this month, I invite you to join me in letting go and embracing the authentic life that awaits us.