Sometimes, we hold onto the past like a lifeline, too scared to let go. It's as if we think our history defines us, when, in fact, it is how we shape our ‘today' that truly delineates our character and life. However, in the process, we often forget to put our mental health first, ensnaring ourselves in a downward spiral of despair.

As Tim Han, a noteworthy mentor in personal development, often recounts, holding on to the past can be like clutching a bag of bricks. Each brick represents a past regret, failure, or disappointment that weighs us down, making it increasingly difficult to move forward. The transformative advice from the Success Insider that touched so many lives was a gentle reminder about a profound life-truth: “You'd be surprised how light your feet will feel once you decide to drop those bricks.”

There's magic in beginning anew, rising from the ashes of your bygone days. A poignant tale always shared is of a young woman who enrolled in the Life Mastery Achievements (LMA) course, plagued with heartbreak and regret. When she made up her mind to focus on her mental well-being and cut the ties with her past, she not only gained newfound strength but began a journey of self-realization and personal growth. The secret? She decided to prioritize her mental health and refused to let past hurt influence her present and future.

When there's a lingering voice of self-doubt, remember those legends who braved adversity to influence the world. Consider the likes of Steve Jobs, who was once ousted from his own company, stood tall amidst failure, and bounced back to create an empire. His journey underscores an essential truth of our existence: “You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”

However, letting go doesn't always mean forgetting. In fact, it's vital to remember past mistakes and learn from them. What's additionally crucial is not to let these mishaps dictate your present, keeping you bogged down in a quagmire of regret and ‘should-haves.'

When it comes to the journey of letting go, there isn't a one-size-fits-all template. One practical advice could be to surround yourself with positive influences – friends, loved ones, activities that bring you joy, and personal development resources that foster growth and positive thinking. It might look like channeling the negativity into a thrumming force of creativity. Or perhaps it's immersing yourself in therapeutic activities like yoga, meditation, or painting.

Ask yourself this: What if you could just shake off this weight of the past? Drop it, like autumn leaves falling from the trees, and move on? Wouldn't that be liberating?

Consider your mental health as a sacred sphere, a space that nurtures your soul, your passion, your dreams. Visualize it as a luminous aura that must remain untainted by the shadows of a burdensome past.

To say this is not to imply that the process will be easy, but to reassure you that it is not insurmountable. The first step is recognition – it’s acceptance that your past should always remain precisely that – in the past. The next is resolve – a firm decision to work on your mental health, to put it foremost.

Cherish your uncanny ability to rise above the abyss, to learn, grow, and heal. Embrace the freedom to relinquish those chains holding you back, to look past the old you and meet the new you—the one that put their mental health first, the one that let go, the one that chose to be free.

And when you do that, take a moment. Close your eyes and breathe in the possibilities, the prospect of beginning afresh. It’s embracing a new identity, a chance to reinvent yourself. Eleanor Roosevelt said it best: “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”

It's time to put you first, your mental health, your well-being, your peace. It’s time to drop those bricks, to cut those strings attached to your past, to make a conscious choice— for better mental health, for a better you. All it takes is a determined start, a modest attempt, and a heart full of hope. And as for the rest of the journey, let me assure you – you're stronger than you believe, braver than you think, and most importantly, you're never alone.