Moving on from a person, a situation, or a feeling is never easy. It’s a process that requires time, effort, and strength. However, sometimes, it’s necessary for our growth, well-being, and happiness. Letting go of what no longer serves us can be liberating and empowering. In this article, we’ve compiled 50 quotes about letting go that can inspire and motivate you to move forward and create a better future.
“Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.”
Deborah Reber
This quote reminds us that we can’t change or fix other people, only ourselves. We can’t force someone to love us, respect us, or treat us well. We can only choose how we react and respond to their behavior and decide whether it’s healthy or not for us. Letting go is about taking responsibility for our own happiness and well-being.
“The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.”
Steve Maraboli
This quote highlights the importance of forgiveness in the process of letting go. Whether it’s forgiving ourselves, the other person, or the situation, it’s a crucial step towards healing and moving forward. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting or condoning what happened, but it means releasing ourselves from the burden of anger, resentment, and pain.
“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
Joseph Campbell
This quote emphasizes the idea that sometimes, our plans and expectations don’t align with the reality of our lives. We might have imagined a certain future for ourselves, but life might have a different path for us. Letting go of our attachment to a specific outcome or vision can open up new opportunities and possibilities that we never considered.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
Alan Watts
This quote encourages us to embrace change and see it as a natural and inevitable part of life. Instead of resisting or fearing change, we can choose to flow with it and adapt to it. Change can be scary and uncomfortable, but it can also bring growth, learning, and transformation.
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
This quote reminds us that we don’t need to have everything figured out or know the entire journey ahead of us. We can start with one small step, one decision, one action, and trust that the rest will follow. Taking the first step can be the hardest, but it’s also the most important.
“If you want to fly in the sky, you need to leave the earth. If you want to move forward, you need to let go the past that drags you down.”
Amit Ray
This quote uses the metaphor of flying to illustrate the idea that in order to move forward and reach new heights, we need to let go of what’s holding us back. The past can be heavy baggage that weighs us down and prevents us from soaring. Letting go of the past can be liberating and empowering.
“The only thing a person can ever really do is keep moving forward. Take that big leap forward without hesitation, without once looking back. Simply forget the past and forge toward the future.”
Alyson Noel
This quote emphasizes the importance of momentum and progress in our lives. We can’t change the past or undo what’s already happened, but we can choose to focus on the present and the future. Moving forward requires courage, resilience, and faith in ourselves.
“The greatest loss of time is delay and expectation, which depend upon the future. We let go the present, which we have in our power, and look forward to that which depends upon chance, and so relinquish a certainty for an uncertainty.”
Seneca
This quote reminds us that sometimes, we get caught up in our expectations and fantasies about the future, and we forget to appreciate and enjoy the present moment. We can’t control or predict the future, but we can make the most of what we have right now. Letting go of our attachment to the future can help us focus on what’s real and valuable in our lives.
“It’s not a matter of letting go—you would if you could. Instead of ‘Let it go,’ we should probably say ‘Let it be.’”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
This quote suggests that sometimes, letting go is not a matter of willpower or choice, but rather a matter of acceptance and surrender. We can’t force ourselves to let go of something that still hurts or affects us deeply, but we can choose to let it be and allow it to exist without resisting or fighting it. Letting it be can create space for healing and transformation.
“The only cure to all this madness; is too dream, far and wide, if possibility doesn’t knock, create a damn door. If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t make it. If the journey your travelling seems to far fetched and wild beyond your imagination; continue on it, great things come to the risk takers. And last but not least, live today; here, right now, you’ll thank your future self for it later.”
Unknown
This quote encourages us to be bold, creative, and courageous in pursuing our dreams and passions. We don’t have to settle for what’s comfortable or familiar, but we can choose to take risks and explore new territories. Living in the present moment and savoring it can also bring us joy and fulfillment.
“The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying; the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving. I didn’t want to destroy anything or anybody. I just wanted to slip quietly out the back door, without causing any fuss or consequences, and then not stop running until I reached Greenland.”
Elizabeth Gilbert
This quote captures the ambivalence, uncertainty, and fear that often accompany the decision to let go and move on. It’s not an easy or straightforward choice, but it’s sometimes necessary for our own well-being and growth. Letting go can be painful and messy, but it can also lead to new adventures and discoveries.
“It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.”
Theodore Roosevelt
This quote reminds us that moving on and letting go require effort, discipline, and determination. It’s not a passive or easy process, but rather an active and challenging one. We need to confront our fears, doubts, and insecurities, and push ourselves beyond our comfort zone. The reward, however, can be worth it.
“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.”
Unknown
This quote uses the metaphor of a book to illustrate the idea that in order to move forward and create a new story for ourselves, we need to let go of the old one. We can’t keep dwelling on the past or reliving our mistakes and regrets. We need to turn the page and start a fresh chapter.
“The past can’t hurt you anymore, not unless you let it.”
Alan Moore
This quote reminds us that the power of the past over us is only as strong as we allow it to be. We can’t change what happened or undo our mistakes, but we can choose how we react to them and whether we let them define us or not. Letting go of the past can liberate us from its grip and allow us to focus on the present and the future.
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Nelson Mandela
This quote emphasizes the importance of resilience, perseverance, and learning from our mistakes and setbacks. Falling down is not a sign of weakness or failure, but rather an opportunity to rise up stronger and wiser. Letting go of our fear of failure or rejection can free us to take risks and pursue our dreams.
“The only way to get over a painful past is to go through it. Forgiving and forgetting are two different things. You can’t truly forget something until you’ve forgiven it.”
Liane Moriarty
This quote highlights the importance of facing and processing our pain and trauma in order to heal and move on. Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting or pretending that nothing happened, but rather acknowledging the harm and choosing to release ourselves from the burden of anger and resentment. Letting go of the past requires courage, compassion, and patience.
“Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny.”
Steve Maraboli
This quote reminds us that not everyone who enters our lives is meant to stay there forever. Some people come into our lives to teach us lessons, challenge us, or support us, but their role might be temporary. Letting go of them doesn’t mean that we forget or devalue their impact on us, but rather that we acknowledge and respect the natural flow of life.
“Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future.”
Daphne Rose Kingma
This quote contrasts the mindset of holding on to the past with the mindset of letting go and embracing the future. Holding on to the past can be comforting and familiar, but it can also prevent us from growing and evolving. Letting go can be scary and uncertain, but it can also bring us new opportunities and experiences.
“Letting go is hard, but being free is beautiful.”
Unknown
This quote encapsulates the essence of the letting go process. Letting go can be painful and challenging, but it can also be liberating and transformative. Being free from the weight of the past and the expectations of others can allow us to discover our true selves and pursue our authentic desires.
These 50 quotes about letting go can provide you with inspiration, wisdom, and comfort on your own journey of moving on. Whether you’re letting go of a person, a situation, a habit, or a belief, remember that the process is unique to you and that you have the power to create a new story for yourself.
