Each one of us has some past baggage in some form or the other that we continue to carry with us as we move on in life.
Nobody asked us to do that but we as humans, inherently, have a tendency to carry all the emotions inside us throughout our lives that eventually shape us in the person we are at any given time.
As rightly said, we are the sum of life experiences we had.
Past baggage may be in any form and may vary in intensity that eventually affects our present and future as we move on.
It could be -
an untimely death of a loved one,
past physical or emotional traumas,
toxic relationships,
perceived successes or failures,
mistakes or regrets,
events that were upsetting or disturbing
When we can’t let it go, this is what happens -
we think that something bad is going to happen to us
the trauma keeps on haunting us
we feel our life is stuck
we start losing hope
Why is it difficult to let go of the past?
Having past baggage can deeply influence our life. And letting them go is challenging for some people while some people find it easy to let go the emotional baggage.
Also, it is dangerous for one's future as it may cause -
conflict & anger issues
lack of commitment
communication problem
substance abuse
medical issues
psychological behaviour
emotional disturbance
trust issues
anxiety
depression
mood disorders
regressive behaviour
low self-esteem
Some of the thoughts that arise in our mind which stops one's growth & doesn’t allow the person to let go the past emotions are:
I’m unwanted
I’m trapped in this situation.
I’m worthless.
I deserve this pain.
It’s my mistake.
I am unable to overcome this situation.
Questions to ask yourself
Am I stuck?
What is happening?
Where is this leading me?
Is this stopping my growth?
How to deal with it?
How to deal with past baggage & find peace with the help of Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Therapy is based on the premise that what we think impacts our emotions — our thoughts become our reactions and responses to the world around us.
CBT takes a solution-focused approach to treatment. People are taught how to solve problems and learn new coping skills.
How does CBT helps us by allowing us to -
make commitment to let go of past
change perceptions
take responsibilities
open to forgiveness
spend time with self & people who loves you
reduce trauma
focus on self-growth
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