There is a common, yet unsettling, sense of loss felt when we choose to let certain parts of ourselves go. Even if this release is ultimately for the betterment of ourselves and our relationships with others, we tend to feel confusion and uncertainty during the transition process itself. Letting go of the person we used to be forces us to confront ourselves in a painfully raw and excruciatingly truthful way.

We cannot simply stay ignorant to our own instincts – well… yes, we can – but knowing better forces us to question why we don’t choose to be better. That is where the true internal battle lies. Not in the question itself, but in the difficulty of acting on the answer we know to be correct.

There is an interesting sensation that arises when we choose to discover and step into an unknown part of our higher self – Fear. We become fearful of the unknown (loss of control), fearful about who we may lose along the way (loss of social status), and fearful of the person we may become through the process (loss of self/identity). These three areas: Control, Society, and Identity; make up a huge portion of our belief systems and serve as the foundation for our intrapersonal and external connections. When we become challenged in any one of these areas, or asked to make significant change, it is easy to reject the newness and revert to our same habitual patterns. Regardless if these patterns are helpful or harmful to us, people find comfort in things that feel familiar and making the decision to change usually comes with both beautiful and challenging consequences.

Control is one of the areas we try to hold onto with dear life, and we do not give it up easily to anyone – not even ourselves. Being in control of your surroundings and practicing the art of letting go are essentially opposite actions, and to do one you have to release the power of the other. When we release our power of control, we tend to feel helpless, like we are now at the mercy of life and no longer have a say in what happens to us. There likely is some level of truth to this; however, it does not explicitly mean that that our lives will become worse. Maybe, just maybe, there is a level of freedom achieved when we can release our own unfulfilled (and sometimes unrealistic) expectations of ourselves and others. What could happen if we were not so trapped in our own minds of what “should” be, and instead we were able to find gratefulness for what simply is? Would a perspective shift of this volume create more chaos, or perhaps would it instead lead us to an untapped level of peace.

Our success and growth potential often have a direct correlation with the environments we are surrounded by. Our family, friends, living situations, and career all play important roles in our lives. Growth happens in many ways, and it often involves some variation within your social circle or close friendships. Navigating this change can be very stressful for any individual and it can sometimes feel impossible to please everyone while staying true to the person you are trying to become. Despite our reluctance to admit it… not everyone can go with us into the next season of our lives. This truth is not meant to be taken personally, but often it can and will be, and learning how to navigate through our own personal guilt can be a tricky road. Our circles don’t necessarily need to be large to have a big impact, and sometimes too many voices can have a negative impact on our own internal dialogue. It takes a certain courage to distance yourself from relationships that no longer serve you in positive ways, and unfortunately it will be uncomfortable first before you learn to find peace with the decision. Be patient with yourself.

Our greatest journey through life happens internally as we try to define, and re-define ourselves and discover “who we are”. It is extremely important to have a grounded sense of self; however, it is equally important to know when it is necessary to shed parts of yourself that no longer benefit you and no longer guide you towards your ambitions and dreams. Admitting to ourselves that we need to evolve into something new is very difficult, partly because it requires recognizing that something is not working for you any longer, and partly because you are now challenged to do and act differently than how you have before. Many times, there is a level of grief associated with a change of identity. We mourn who we used to be, and we can become afraid of the person we will become because they are unknown to us.

Most people would rather stay in a place, physically or mentally, where they are able to predict their own actions and when we are asked to elevate ourselves to a higher version – we must acknowledge that failure is an unavoidable part of the formula. To become this higher version of ourselves, we are asked to embrace the idea of failure, understanding that mistakes are necessary to learn new lessons. Failure itself is neither good nor bad, but how we choose to respond to our mistakes says much more about our character and who we are. The version of yourself that you have not met yet will 100% be different than who you are today, but that person will have the wisdom, the patience, the empathy, and the drive to do what you cannot. They are not here to harm you, but to help you become the person you are meant to be.

Much like the Dandelion, we must embrace the act of letting go and move forward with confidence that it will change us for the better. To believe beyond a doubt there is greatness awaiting us, and to develop the courage and spirit to chase it into the unknown. If we can learn to bow to our challenges, let go of our past, and find peace in the part of us left behind… then we will truly be able to find freedom in the wind. - - -