Unpacking What Weighs Us Down

What would you have to let go of to shed the extra weight that you are carrying right now? I’m not talking about body or physical weight; I’m talking about psychological weight. Is it possible that we have gotten so used to carrying our unprocessed baggage around with us that we’ve accepted it as a part of who we are?

What would be different if we could put it down?

There’s the weight we carry from the past, in memories and regrets, but then there is also the weight that we hold about our unknown future filled with and often attached to our hopes and fears.

Like bags that we overpack with items that we think we might need, it’s energy spent worrying about something that doesn’t exist anymore or hoping for something that hasn’t even happened yet.

Like the airlines, there’s a price to pay for overweight baggage and it’s costing us dearly.

We’ve grown understandably weary from operating this way, but the good news is there’s a lighter way to travel through life. It’s a journey where no baggage is required because you’ve already got everything you need.

So let’s start unpacking!

It’s time to be your own travel guide and make a reservation to journey inward and spend some much needed time with yourself. Let go of any fear or judgment and tap into the excitement of going somewhere new. Remind yourself that like any new place we go, there are always new things to discover. Get curious. Start to unpack what’s in there. Unchecked baggage is often packed so tightly that things get shoved down and we forget why we brought it with us in the first place.

Notice what starts to unfold as you recognize the thoughts, memories, hopes and fears for what they really are; thoughts, memories, hopes and fears. That’s it. They aren’t directives, you don’t need to do anything about them and there is certainly no need to take them with you.

There are so many things that we can’t control around us but we can make choices about how we want to travel through this life. We all arrive at the same destination in the end. It’s up to us what we experience along the way.

I’ve created an acronym that I’d like to share with you.

U- is for UNIVERSAL. We all share the human experience.

N- is for NOW. Now is never too late to begin.

P- is for PERSONAL. This journey is yours. Each of us is unique.

A- is for ACKNOWLEDGE. Recognize and accept where you are without judgment.

C- is for CURIOSITY. Approach your thoughts, fears and dreams with curiosity.

K- is for KINDNESS. Above all, be kind to yourself so that you might offer kindness to others along the way.

I encourage you to journey inward and unpack the extra weight you’ve been carrying. To lighten up and enjoy the ride.

From where I sit, you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I’m Lisa Hopkins, stay safe and healthy everyone and remember to live in the moment.

Listen to Audio Version here!

Published in Collaboration with:

Also on TheatreArtLife:

Zurich Film Festival – an Interview with Aurel Graf

The Extraordinary Cinema Culture of Zurich, Switzerland

Join TheatreArtLife to access unlimited articles, our global career center, discussion forums, and professional development resource guide. Your investment will help us continue to ignite connections across the globe in live entertainment and build this community for industry professionals. Learn more about our subscription plans.

Love to write or have something to say? Become a contributor with TheatreArtLife. Join our community of industry leaders working in artistic, creative, and technical roles across the globe. Visit our CONTRIBUTE page to learn more or submit an article.