Just let go : Of things that hold you back in life

We are one month into the New Year, but millions of people are still vowing to achieve big things this year. Just as important as the goals you are reaching toward, however, are the things you are intentionally letting go of. A big part of designing a good life is being able to let go of things that hold you back in life and things that are not important to you.

Here are 30 things to let go of in 2016 to make this the best year you’ve ever had

1. Let go of self-sabotaging habits. Work on being kind and loving to yourself. (Check box for some little things to do every day to really love yourself.)

2. Let go of perfection. Waiting to do some thing until the timing is perfect often means you’ll never do it at all.
3. Let go of saying you’ll do things “someday.” This life is not a dress rehearsal.
4. Let go of trying to please everyone all the time. You’ll never be everything to everyone and that’s okay.
5. Let go of living the life that everyone else has planned for you. It’s time to design your life the way you want to live it.
6. Let go of the pressure to spend your entire career at a 9-5 job you don’t love. Make a point to find your passion this year.

7. Let go of being paralysed by fear. Remember the biggest risk is often doing nothing; the biggest risk is that you’ll wake up years from now and wish you would have acted on your dreams.

8. Let go of neglecting yourself. You can best serve the world when you take care of yourself.
9. Let go of toxic relationships. You deserve to spend time with people who are uplifting.

50 small things you can do every day to really love yourself

1. Connect today with someone who is positive, inspiring, and encouraging
2. Visit with your neighbour
3. Send a note in the mail to a family member or friend
4. Plan a fun night out with friends
5. Snuggle with your love
6. If you’re not satisfied with your life, admit it to yourself, and write out your action plan to make changes
7. Spend 10 minutes today being quiet
8. Forgive yourself. You must accept that you are not perfect before you can love yourself
9. Seek the help you need — set up an appointment for counselling or therapy if you’re struggling emotionally. You are worth it
10. Spend 10 minutes working on a favourite stress-management technique
11. Write down your schedule for the day. This will help you set aside time each day to spend time on your priorities and minimize wasted time
12. Practice an optimistic attitude
13. Be mindful of your inner dialogue. The messages you tell yourself can greatly influence your life
14. Set boundaries on how you’ll spend your time. Steer clear of time-sucking activities that don’t add meaning to your life
16. Turn away from behaviours that tend to get you into trouble
17. Say no to toxic people and activities
18. Say yes to adventure
19. Have fun. Laugh every day
20. Compliment yourself
21. Explore your faith
22. Spend time in prayer or meditation
23. Seek an opportunity to grow in one of the challenges in your life
24. Get outside in nature
25. Do something altruistic
26. Practice not buying what you don’t need
27. Donate items you don’t need. Practice getting rid of 1 item per day
28. Learn about your strengths
29. Discover your passion. This workbook is a great start
30. Write down your big career goals
31. Take one small step each day toward your dream career
32. Connect with a co-worker
33. Read 1 page of a book that interests you today
34. Learn
35. Book an adventure to a new place
36. Sign up for a new class through community education or a local college
37. Take a small step out of your comfort zone every day
38. Appreciate the amazing things your body can do rather than focusing on what you consider to be your “flaws”
39. Schedule your routine physical with your doctor
40. Pick a new vegetable to eat
41. Choose one new healthy recipe to make this week
42. While you eat, focus on your meal
43. Make a specific game plan to quit a destructive habit
44. Nourish your body with health choices
45. Establish a nighttime routine for a healthy dose of sleep
46. Set aside time each day to work toward making a big dream of yours a reality
47. Do something you love every day
48. Buy yourself fresh flowers someday soon, just for fun
49. Schedule a massage
50. Start a gratitude journal and list something you are thankful for every day

10. Let go of letting your past define your future.
11. Let go of constantly competing with people. Focus on your path and work on improving yourself every day.

12. Let go of sitting on the sidelines. Life’s too short to sit there and watch it pass you by just because you don’t think you have the ‘perfect’ body, you’re ‘too old,’ you’re ‘too young,’ or you’re too (fill in the blank).

13. Let go of items you don’t need. Decluttering your life is incredibly freeing.

14. Let go of trying to be good at everything. Instead, focus on being great at a few things that line up with your priorities and strengths.

15. Let go of thinking you can’t make a difference right now. It’s often possible to turn a difficult job into an amazing mission, right where you are.

16. Let go of always saying yes. Learn to say no to certain commitments so you can say yes to what matters most to you.
17. Let go of excuses. Decide what you want and go get it.
18. Let go of self-doubt.
19. Let go of procrastination.
20.Let go of blaming others.

21. Let go of negativity. You really can live an amazing, fulfilling life that you love. It’s time to work on having a great mindset.

23.Let go of time-wasting activities that prevent you from working toward your meaningful goals.

26. Let go of worrying about what others think of you. It’s time to find your tribe of like-minded, encouraging people, and blaze the trail you want to blaze.

27. Let go of being closed-minded. Great innovations happen when people dare to dream about possibilities.

28. Let go of refusing to try new things. You never know what you might love. Sign up for a random vocational class, try a new physical activity, or start a new book club. Life is so much richer with new experiences.

30. Let go of thinking your dreams are impossible. Set big goals and surround yourself with people who encourage, support, and inspire you to reach them.

(Kerry Petsinger is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, entrepreneur, and coach who is confident he can help you spend your life doing what matters to you. His confidence stems from the fact that people from 104 countries who have used his ‘30 Powerful Questions to Find Your Passion ’workbook, will vouch for this as a fact)