If you’ve been around the internet, TV or movies since 2013, chances are you’ve heard the song Let It Go, from the Disney movie Frozen, and you’ve probably heard it more than once, especially if you have kids. The song can grind on a person’s nerves after the first fifty times, but learning to let go of things is actually an extremely crucial part of life, especially if you’ve ever struggled with drug or alcohol addiction.

Letting go of things, whether it’s your own choices and actions, events from your past or things said, is one of the biggest obstacles many people face when it comes to getting sober. Addiction is a terrible disease and when we’re under its grasp, we often say and do horrible things, often to the people that mean the most to us. When you’re facing these actions and the things we’ve said in the cold light of sobriety, it can be extremely embarrassing or painful, which is a big reason learning to let those things go is important. The past is the past, and as much as we may wish otherwise, nothing that we do now can undo or change what we’ve done or said in that past.

When you learn to let go of those things, or let go of what others have done to you, you’re giving yourself the chance to do better in the future. If we hold on to mistakes or the things that shame us, we’re dwelling on them, not learning from them. It’s important to learn to acknowledge your actions and how you feel, but then you have to let it go to make room for bettering yourself. Learning from those mistakes and then pushing them out of mind will go a long way in helping you have a more steady sobriety, and by letting it go, you’re loving yourself enough to let go rather than just let it fester in your mind.

Learning to let go of your past and your past mistakes is one of the best things you can do for your future and your recovery, and you may feel a physical release of tension once you truly begin to let go. Letting go makes room for the life you want to live in the future, not the one you left behind in addiction.

If you’re struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, don’t let another day go by before you take your life back into your own hands. The Springboard Center is ready to help, with caring people who are there to help you, not judge you. Make the call today: 432-620-0255