Letting Go of the Past – Free Yourself and Move Forward
Letting go of the past is one of the most powerful and life-changing steps in your journey to create a new life.
It’s also one of the most emotionally challenging.
Whether you’re holding on to old roles, guilt, regrets, perfectionism, or stories about who you “should” be — the truth is, those patterns are often the biggest blocks to your growth. And they follow you into every area of life until you consciously choose to release them.
In this stage of the N.E.W. L.I.F.E. path, we focus on letting go of the past so you can begin moving forward with more lightness, freedom, and self-respect.
Why Letting Go of the Past Is Necessary for Change
Many of us are stuck not because we don’t want a better life — but because we’re still carrying the emotional weight of our past with us.
That might be:
- Guilt over past decisions or mistakes
- Shame for not doing things “perfectly”
- Old beliefs from childhood or early adulthood
- Grief over what didn’t turn out the way we hoped
- A life built around people-pleasing or proving your worth
The longer you carry it, the heavier it becomes. Letting go of the past doesn’t mean denying your experiences — it means giving yourself permission to heal, to grow, and to stop defining yourself by outdated stories.
➡️ Explore more: How to Start Letting G
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Signs You’re Still Carrying the Past
Letting go starts with noticing what you're holding on to. Here are some common signs you’re being weighed down by old energy:
- You feel emotionally stuck, even when you try to move forward
- You replay old conversations or regrets in your mind
- You define your self-worth by what happened then
- You struggle to say “no” or prioritise your own needs
- You feel disconnected from who you are now
The past has shaped you — but it doesn’t have to define your future.
➡️ Discover more: What’s Holding You Back?
Common Areas We Need to Release
Letting go can be emotional and tender — but it is also empowering. Here are a few areas where many women in midlife and beyond often need to release:
1. Guilt
Especially guilt around taking time for yourself, saying no, or changing direction.
2. Roles
You may have been the fixer, the giver, the carer. That doesn’t mean you have to keep playing those roles forever.
3. Beliefs
“I’m not good enough.” “I’m too old.” “It’s too late for me.”
These are not facts — they’re inherited beliefs you’re allowed to rewrite.
➡️ Start reframing here: Rewriting the Story You’ve Been Living
What Letting Go Looks Like in Daily Life
Letting go isn’t a one-time moment — it’s a daily choice. It might look like:
- Saying “no” without guilt
- Speaking kindly to yourself in the mirror
- Unfollowing people who drain your energy
- Choosing rest instead of proving your worth
- Walking away from relationships that no longer feel good
Letting go is messy, imperfect, and deeply personal. But every act of release brings you closer to who you really are.
➡️ Learn the tools: How to Stop People Pleasing Without Feeling Guilty
Practice: Release and Replace
Try this simple journaling practice to begin letting go:
- Write down one story, belief, or role you’re ready to release.
- Ask: “How has this served me in the past?”
- Ask: “Is it still serving me now?”
- Write: “What would I like to believe or choose instead?”
This is the beginning of a mindset shift — one that frees you from the identity that’s keeping you small.
➡️ Download your guide: Letting Go Journal Prompts
Letting Go Makes Room for Who You’re Becoming
Once you start letting go of the past, you’ll create space for new possibilities:
- New beliefs
- Healthier relationships
- A more truthful identity
- A calmer, stronger sense of self
You’ll stop living your life based on who you were — and start living from who you are now, and who you want to become.
Next Step: Inner Shifts
Letting go creates space. Inner shifts create momentum.
In the next step of your journey, you’ll learn how to shift your mindset, build confidence, and cultivate emotional resilience.