This is one of the hardest practices in life. You have to let go of the past and focus on the present, on what you have now and what is still available to you. Doing this creates peace of mind. You simply cannot live in the past. The fun and good times you once had are now memories. What you truly have is today, and only today. You can plan for the future, but the past is gone. Letting go can be emotional because it means releasing things you’ve been attached to so you can move on. For an older person, this can be especially difficult, because life feels shorter.

Accepting Change and Limitations

Let me give a few examples. Imagine you have health issues, particularly with your eyes, and are told you may lose vision in one or both of them. Suddenly, life becomes a matter of managing the resources you have left. You focus on what you can still do and accept that life has changed. We all go through stages in life, and this is just one of them. You may see doctors, therapists, and friends and receive treatments or medication that help, but at its core, it is still about managing your remaining energy and abilities.

Life Stages and Loss

Another example is an illness that makes walking difficult or causes your legs to give way. Many older people experience this. Or consider a parent whose children leave home. The “empty nest” stage can be emotional. Even if you are on good terms and your children eventually return with families of their own, what you do together will change. They grow up and build their own lives.

The Rise and Decline of Abilities

From birth onward, our physical abilities rise and eventually decline. To have peace of mind, you must accept this. In my six decades as a consultant, I’ve watched clients start businesses, grow them, succeed, and eventually retire. They pass through many phases, and often struggle to leave behind a phase that was enjoyable or meaningful.

Grief, Forgiveness, and Acceptance

It is natural to feel grief, and at some point, acceptance has to follow. Letting go may require forgiveness. There are many ways to release what no longer serves you. Sometimes you lose freedoms, like the ability to drive, and it becomes harder to get around. Life changes, and you must adapt. You must accept reality.

Letting Go on a Larger Scale

I see the same pattern in the world today, especially in politics. Systems go through phases. It takes time and learning to align systems so they function well. Breaking old systems down is one thing; creating workable new ones is another. When something works, it should be refined—but often you cannot go back to what once was.

Finding Peace Amid Uncertainty

Look at the wars happening today and the actions of our leaders. Many aspects of life are being sacrificed because of ignorance or belief in something else. It is sad, but often there is little you can do except manage your own life as best as you can, with the resources you have left.