The Power of Letting Go: Releasing Emotional Baggage for True Healing
- Ant Critchley
- Mar 5
- 3 min read
Have you ever felt like you’re carrying the weight of the past on your shoulders? Like no matter how much you try to move forward, something invisible keeps pulling you back? I know that feeling all too well. For years, I held onto pain, regrets, and self-doubt, thinking that if I let them go, I’d lose a part of myself. But what I didn’t realise was that true healing begins the moment we decide to release what no longer serves us.
My Personal Journey: Learning to Let Go
There was a time when Sunday evenings filled me with dread. The anxiety of the upcoming week would creep in, and I’d feel an overwhelming sense of heaviness, as if I was reliving all the stress of the past week before it even began. I clung to old stories—past failures, moments of rejection, and deep-rooted fears that told me I wasn’t good enough.
One day, after another restless night, I found myself researching ways to manage anxiety. That’s when I stumbled upon EFT tapping. At first, it seemed too simple to be effective—just tapping on certain points of the body while speaking aloud? But in my desperation, I gave it a go.
And something shifted.
As I tapped through my emotions, memories surfaced—ones I didn’t even realise were still affecting me. Tears rolled down my face as I acknowledged the hurt, but for the first time, instead of suppressing it, I let it be seen, heard, and then released.
That was just the beginning.
Why Holding Onto Pain Keeps Us Stuck
Many of us unknowingly carry emotional baggage. It can manifest as:
✔️ Anxiety – worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet
✔️ Self-Doubt – feeling like we’re not enough, no matter what we achieve
✔️ Resentment – replaying past hurts and wishing things had been different
✔️ Fear of Change – staying in situations that no longer serve us because they feel familiar
But here’s the truth: holding onto pain doesn’t change the past—it only robs us of the present.
Practical Techniques for Letting Go
If you’re ready to release what’s weighing you down, here are some techniques that helped me—and that I now share with my clients in my Heart-Centered Guidance sessions.
1. EFT Tapping: Releasing Emotional Blocks
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a powerful tool to shift stuck emotions. By tapping on meridian points, you signal to your nervous system that it’s safe to let go.
🖐️ Try this: The next time a painful memory arises, tap gently on the side of your hand and say, “Even though I feel [emotion], I deeply and completely accept myself.”
2. Breathwork: Creating Space for Healing
Our breath holds the power to ground and release emotions. When we are anxious, we tend to hold our breath or breathe shallowly, keeping tension trapped in our bodies.
🌬️ Try this: The 4-7-8 Breath – Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7, and exhale for 8. Repeat until you feel your body relax.
3. Walking in Nature: Letting Go Physically and Mentally
I often take my sessions outdoors, guiding clients on mindful walks. There’s something incredibly healing about stepping away from the noise of everyday life and reconnecting with nature.
🍃 Try this: On your next walk, with each step, imagine leaving a piece of your emotional baggage behind. With every breath in, welcome peace. With every breath out, release what no longer serves you.
4. Guided Meditation: Releasing the Past
Meditation helps quiet the mind and connect with the present moment. I often guide my clients through visualizations where they imagine placing their burdens into a stream, watching them drift away.
🧘♀️ Try this: Sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, and picture a glowing light filling your body, dissolving all tension.
Your Healing Starts Here
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting—it means freeing yourself. It means allowing healing to happen, so you can step into the life you truly deserve. If you’re struggling to release past pain and would like support, my Heart-Centered Guidance sessions offer a safe space for healing. Whether we sit together on my boat at Rufford Marina, take a mindful walk in nature, or connect through Reiki and hypnosis, I’m here to help you navigate your journey.
💛 Are you ready to take the first step? Book a session today
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