National Let It Go Day: Healing From Negative Experiences

National Let It Go Day provides a structured opportunity to heal from negative experiences through evidence-based therapeutic techniques, including mindfulness practices, cognitive behavioral therapy, and professional counseling support, which research shows can effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression while promoting positive mental health outcomes.

Ever notice how tightly we hold onto painful memories and difficult emotions? National Let It Go Day reminds us that releasing these burdens isn't just about forgetting – it's about healing, growing, and creating space for joy through proven therapeutic strategies that can transform your emotional well-being.

National Let It Go Day: Healing And Moving Forward From Negative Experiences

Regret, anger, sadness, and heartbreak are universal human experiences. Sometimes, these negative feelings can linger long after the triggering event has passed. Learning to heal, release negative emotions, and move forward with a more positive mindset is essential for maintaining good mental health.

This is why National Let It Go Day, celebrated annually on June 23, holds such significance. This observance provides an opportunity to acknowledge negative emotions we may be harboring, make peace with difficult chapters in our lives, heal from painful experiences, and build a more positive future. Working with a licensed clinical social worker through telehealth services can be an effective way to navigate this process.

History of National Let It Go Day

National Let It Go Day was established by Thomas and Ruth Roy of Wellcat Holidays & Herbs. Though it might seem unusual for an herb company to create such a holiday, the Roys believed that every day deserves celebration and developed their own calendar of special observances, including Let It Go Day.

According to the Roys, National Let It Go Day is observed each year on June 23, encouraging everyone to release whatever burdens their minds to create space for a better tomorrow.

Impacts of negativity on mental health

While negative thoughts, emotions, and experiences are part of everyone’s life journey, holding onto negativity can significantly impact mental health and overall quality of life. Research has investigated how positive and negative thinking patterns affect outcomes during stressful events, finding that those with negative thought patterns often reported lower well-being overall.

After experiencing a negative event—whether a conflict, relationship breakdown, betrayal, or other stressful situation—you might experience emotions such as:

• Anger
• Sadness
• Regret
• Guilt
• Shame
• Self-consciousness
• Frustration
• Jealousy
• Disappointment
• Annoyance
• Embarrassment
• Resentment

Beyond the immediate distress these feelings cause, repetitive negative thinking and holding onto negative emotions can contribute to developing mental health conditions. Research examining three forms of negative, repetitive thinking revealed that all three types were significantly associated with increased depression and anxiety symptoms. While more recent studies may be needed to confirm these findings, evidence consistently suggests a connection between negative thought patterns and mental health challenges.

Benefits of letting go of the past

It’s important to recognize that experiencing negative emotions isn’t inherently problematic—these feelings are natural aspects of being human. However, rather than dwelling on these emotions, processing them healthily, healing from their effects, and moving forward from difficult experiences offers significant benefits.

Letting go of the past doesn’t mean erasing all your previous experiences. Your history likely contains many joyful memories that have enriched your life. However, intertwined with those positive memories may be emotions that no longer serve you and that you would benefit from releasing.

As discussed, negative experiences can trigger various difficult emotions and potentially contribute to mental health conditions. We often dwell on these feelings long after the precipitating event, even when we can’t change what happened. When we decide to stop investing energy in things beyond our control, we can redirect that energy toward cultivating happiness and building a more positive future.

Releasing the past also enables us to live more mindfully and focus on the present moment. Research indicates that focusing on the present can positively impact health and well-being. Mindfulness exercises are frequently used in treatment approaches for reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, and incorporating these practices helps us release thoughts and emotions that create negativity.

Coping strategies to manage negative thoughts and emotions

Experiencing negative thoughts and emotions is a natural part of being human. Developing skills to protect your mental health during stressful experiences and cope with resulting negative emotions is essential for learning to let them go. Consider these strategies to help yourself heal and move forward from negative experiences on National Let It Go Day and beyond.

Identify the source of your emotions

Sometimes negative emotions arise without an obvious trigger. These feelings may also be misdirected or attributed to experiences that aren’t their true source. The first step often involves looking inward and around you to identify the genuine reasons behind your emotions. This clarity makes it easier to change what you can, accept what you can’t, and move forward.

Recognize and process your emotions

Acknowledging the emotions you’re experiencing and giving yourself permission to feel them fully is essential for processing and eventually releasing them.

Make changes where you can

Your negative emotions may stem from the people surrounding you, your work environment, or other controllable aspects of your situation. When possible, making changes—such as establishing boundaries, connecting with different people, or seeking new employment opportunities—can help you move beyond painful experiences and release negative emotions.

Spend time with family and friends

Your support network can provide essential assistance during challenging times. Whether they offer helpful advice or simply listen, leaning on those around you provides the support needed to find peace and move forward.

Channel your emotions into an activity

Many find relief in directing negative emotions into activities or hobbies like exercise, art creation, writing, or meditation. These pursuits can relieve stress and temporarily shift focus away from intense emotions. By directing energy toward positive present-moment activities, releasing the past becomes more achievable.

Practice self-care

Self-care encompasses various activities that improve physical, mental, spiritual, social, and emotional health. Examples might include yoga practice, reading, enjoying favorite shows, or reconnecting with friends. The most effective self-care approaches are those that promote feelings of happiness, health, and inner peace.

Journal

Expressing negative emotions through writing can aid in processing them. Journaling offers a private way to articulate your thoughts, whether through stream-of-consciousness writing about current feelings or using prompts to explore emotions more deeply.

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness has proven effective for managing symptoms of various mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. Mindfulness exercises may include breathing techniques, mindful walking, or increasing awareness of your body and surroundings. Based on the principle that present-moment living supports mental health, mindfulness practices help release past attachments.

Work with a licensed clinical social worker

Therapy with a licensed clinical social worker can be invaluable for understanding emotions carried from past experiences and their current impact. Through therapeutic approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), you can learn to recognize unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors and develop healthier alternatives. Research shows this approach can be an effective way to accept and release the past.

Learn to let go through telehealth therapy

Dwelling on past experiences can create mental health challenges that make attending in-person therapy difficult. For example, depression symptoms resulting from negative emotional patterns might make leaving home overwhelming. For those facing such obstacles, telehealth therapy offers an accessible alternative.

Research indicates that telehealth therapy can be equally effective as face-to-face interventions for treating mental health symptoms. A 2022 study evaluating both approaches found no significant differences between online and in-person therapy. Additionally, telehealth therapy demonstrated effectiveness in treating depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, among other conditions.

Takeaway

National Let It Go Day, recognized annually on June 23, offers an opportunity to make peace with your past and move toward a brighter future. Taking steps to process emotions, accept your history, and release negativity can significantly benefit your mental health. Effective approaches for managing negative thoughts and releasing difficult emotions include acknowledging your feelings, practicing self-care, engaging in mindfulness, journaling, and working with a licensed clinical social worker through telehealth or in-person sessions.