Letting Go and Moving On

One of the difficult lessons in life is learning to let go. Sometimes we must let go of appealing, longstanding fears or doubts which box us in a comfort zone and prevent us from reaching our potential through selfless service to others. Sometimes we must let go of friends who try to hold us back from accomplishing amazing things. Sometimes we must forget memories which impishly strive to hold our future hostage. Occasionally we are called to abandon incorrect ideas or beliefs which stifle meaningful progress.

And, perhaps most difficult of all, at times we may even have to drop some hopes and dreams—good things—which could get in the way of better or best things.

I'm learning all of these lessons now on my mission. Two or three years ago I never even considered that such lessons exist. Serving a mission forces me to grow up quickly—not a bad thing, just difficult.

Revelation is a cyclical process

We must rely on the Spirit to know how to abandon fears, which friends to unfriend, which memories to forget, which beliefs to change, which dreams to deflate. And then we must replace the void once filled by negativity with wholesome, positive thoughts, actions and people.

In place of fear, what item of faith or hope can I adopt in my life? Who will I befriend? What memories will I create. Will I allow my beliefs to be determined by faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ, or something else? And will I courageously modify my dreams in an effort to do God's will, not my own?

These are the important questions. Elder Richard G. Scott teaches us how to find answers:

1. Fast
2. Pray to find and understand helpful scriptures
3. Capture everything the Lord is willing to give you

For more reading material, check out these helpful addresses from President Thomas S. Monson, who is masterful at teaching about finding joy and meaning in the journey of life. President Monson is the Lord's prophet on earth today. 

• In Search of Treasure
• Looking Back and Moving Forward
• The Race of Life