‘Hold On’ to What Lifts You Up and ‘Let Go’ of What Holds You Back!

Make Room for What Truly Matters

Juby John
ILLUMINATION
7 min readMay 13, 2023

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Photo by Neil Thomas on Unsplash

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.
And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

— Steve Jobs.

The inspirational quote by Steve Jobs reminds us that you should not waste the chance of living a life that is not true to yourself. Each person has a unique purpose and calling in life, and it is absolutely up to them to stand for it.

Do not be stumped by statements that pull you down and always stay motivated by what lifts you up. Value those people who are by your side through thick and thin supporting you and encouraging you to follow your dreams.

However, it is common to encounter negative statements or criticism from others at various points in our lives. While these comments can be hurtful and discouraging, consider another way of looking at it- Let those statements pulling you down act as prop roots to support you.
When someone makes a negative statement or criticizes you, it can naturally create a sense of discomfort and dissatisfaction within yourself. However, this discomfort can also catalyze change and growth. Negative statements can help you identify areas where you need to improve and motivate you to take action toward your goals. Negative statements can thus act as prop roots, providing support and stability during difficult times. When you face obstacles or challenges, negative statements can remind you of your inner strength and resilience. By using these comments as a source of motivation, you can stay focused on what truly matters to you and continue to grow and evolve as individuals!

Having said that, of course, it’s important to recognize that not all negative statements are constructive or helpful. It’s crucial to differentiate between constructive criticism and harmful negativity. When you encounter negative statements that are rooted in truth, you can use them to your advantage and use them as prop roots for support. For the rest of them, learn to simply let them go! They do not deserve your attention and are going to do you more harm than good…so just let them go.

Have the courage to listen to your inner voice, follow your intuition, and take actions.
Have the courage to step out of your comfort zones, take risks, and make room for what truly matters to you! It is only by doing so that you can live a meaningful life of your dreams.

Remember to Make Room for What Truly Matters

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of everyday life. We’re bombarded with information, commitments, and responsibilities that can make it difficult to focus on what truly matters. However, by making room for the things that are most important to us, we can create a meaningful life.

Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash
  1. The first step to making room is to identify those things that truly matter.
    What are your passions, your goals, your values, and your priorities? What brings you joy and fulfillment?
    By answering these questions, you can gain clarity on what truly matters to you and make intentional choices to focus on those things.
  2. The next step is to declutter your life.
    This means letting go of the things that don’t align with your priorities and values, such as negative relationships, bad habits, and time-wasting activities. By eliminating these distractions, you create space for the things that truly matter.
  3. Another important aspect of making room for what truly matters is prioritizing self-care.
    This is an aspect of life that you tend to neglect or rather take for granted. It includes taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental health. When you prioritize self-care, you are better able to show up for yourself and for others, and you have the energy and clarity to pursue your goals and passions.
  4. Finally, making room for what truly matters requires intentional action. This means taking small steps each day to move towards your goals and prioritize what’s most important. It may mean saying no to commitments that don’t align with your priorities, setting boundaries to protect your time and energy, or making time each day to pursue your passions.

By doing all the above, you can create a life that’s aligned with your values, passions, and goals. You get to clearly understand what’s important for you that you need to carry along and what all have to be left behind. This would create an experience of greater fulfillment, joy, and purpose.

Let Go of What Holds You Back and Hold on to What Lifts You Up.

10 important strategies to keep in mind

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  1. Review and Understand what is holding you back
    You need to understand that certain things have to be separated from your life if it is pulling you down. It is greatly important to identify what is it that is holding you back. It is the first step towards letting anything go.
    It could be a bad habit, a toxic relationship, a limiting belief, or fear. Whatever it is, acknowledging it is the first step towards releasing it.
  2. Let go of what no longer serves you
    Once you’ve identified what’s holding you back, it’s time to let it go. This can be difficult, especially if it’s something you’ve grown attached to. But by releasing what no longer serves you, you create space for growth and new opportunities.
  3. Embrace what lifts you up:
    Next, it is time to understand and value what are the factors that inspire and motivate you. As I said earlier, remember those who were there always as part of your support system.
    Holding on to what lifts you up is extremely important. Positive relationships, healthy habits, empowering beliefs, and self-care are all examples of things that can lift you up and bring you closer to your goals.
  4. Face your fears:
    Fear is a common obstacle that holds many people back. But by facing your fears and pushing past them, you create space for growth and new experiences. You’ll discover that the things you were afraid of weren’t as scary as you thought, and you’ll become more confident in your abilities.
  5. Learn from your past:
    Your past experiences, both good and bad, can shape your beliefs and limit your potential. But by acknowledging your past and learning from it, you can release the negative emotions that hold you back and move forward with a clearer perspective.
  6. Surround yourself with positive influences:
    The people you surround yourself with can have a significant impact on your mindset and habits. Surrounding yourself with positive, uplifting, and supportive people can help you stay motivated and focused on what matters most.
  7. Prioritize self-care:
    Self-care is essential for maintaining physical, emotional, and mental well-being. By prioritizing self-care, you can recharge your batteries and approach life with more energy and clarity.
  8. Set boundaries:
    Setting boundaries is essential for protecting your time, energy, and mental health. By setting boundaries around your time, relationships, and commitments, you can create space for what truly matters and avoid burnout.
  9. Take action toward your goals:
    Ultimately, letting go of what holds you back and holding on to what lifts you up requires taking intentional action towards your goals. This means setting clear objectives, breaking them down into manageable steps, and consistently taking action toward them. By doing so, you’ll build momentum and make progress toward what truly matters in your life.
  10. Practice gratitude:
    Gratitude is a powerful tool for shifting your perspective and focusing on what’s important. By practicing gratitude regularly, you can cultivate a positive mindset and appreciate the things that truly matter in your life.

Thus, letting go of what holds you back and holding on to what lifts you up is a powerful way to create space for what truly matters in life, the factor which we had discussed earlier.

It takes courage to release what does not motivate you positively, but by doing so, you make space and open yourself up to new opportunities and experiences. Embrace what Lifts you Up, Face your Fears, and Learn from your Past to Create a Life that’s Aligned with your Goals and Values.
You will surely Become Unstoppable!

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Juby John
ILLUMINATION

Management Professional | Writer-Personal Growth and Self Management | Get your Free Guide to Level Up Your Growth and Success: https://resources.jubyjohn.com/