“Let It Go!”

Ok. I know a lot of people think of a frozen ice queen belting out a melody when they read this phrase. If you are a parent, you may be cringing. As a mother of two girls, I have to admit, I do have flashbacks. BUT- I am not referencing our beloved Disney character. I am talking about letting go of our baggage.

It is NOT as simple as it sounds, I know. I have no intention of devaluing thoughts and feelings. How we feel and the thoughts we have affect us daily. We need to implement tools, seek help, and rely on support to get through life. At the same time, we tend to hang on to things that are out of our control. This can lead to depression, anxiety, stress, and troubled relationships.

Loss vs. Letting Go

To clarify: losing something or someone is NOT the same as letting it go. Loss is often out of our control; while actively letting something go takes intention. If you have ever been told, whimsically, to just “let it go” without feeling heard, I understand your frustration. This is not a quick and easy task. It takes time to process, understand, and make a conscious choice to release something. That “something” could be a negative thought, a guilty feeling, or even a certain person in your life who is toxic.

As an example, I struggle with feeling responsible for things I am not. These things often include others’ feelings, what others’ think of me, fixing things I did not mess up, and the list goes on. It’s exhausting.

What Can I do?

I have learned to make a list when I am feeling anxious. I mean, I pick up a pen and paper and start writing. The list I create separates things I can control and things I cannot. When complete, I choose to focus on the half of the list that I can control, and take action. That action can look like owning up to a mistake, upholding my commitments, or communicating my feelings. The rest of the list (the things I do not have power over) loses my attention. This can feel relieving, and sometimes even empowering.

Now, I may have to go back an hour later, and make another list because I start feeling anxious again, but practice turns into habit. Eventually, we can learn to identify and focus on things in our power. We can let go, and stop ruminating over things that disrupt our happiness. This can create space for new things, a new day, happiness, or growth.

So, let it go. Spend less time reacting and changing for other people. Make choices that are healthy for you, not what others think is healthy for you. Counseling with a licensed professional can decrease anxiety, and help discern between what we can change and what we cannot.

Begin Counseling for Anxiety in Katy, TX!

If you are ready to let go of things you cannot control, Melissa can help! She provides counseling to men, women, teens, and families. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:

1. Contact the office to set up an appointment or to get more information about counseling for anxiety.
2. Meet with Melissa.
3. Find ways to improve your self-esteem and inner peace!

Other Therapy Offered:

Melissa offers counseling services for people of all ages including: depression treatment, treatment for anxiety, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, and family therapy. Melissa strives to regularly post blogs with helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about Melissa and her counseling services, please reach out to Barton Counseling Services today!