If you read this blog regularly, you know I write a lot about how too much stuff can weigh us down. But this blog has never been just about cleaning out your garage or donating old clothes. It’s about removing distractions and lightening the load in every part of life.
Sometimes what drags us down isn’t a bunch of things in a closet. It’s what’s going on inside us. Feelings and worries can weigh a lot too, and the longer you carry them, the heavier they get.
For example, here are 15 things you might be carrying inside you that can get pretty heavy over time—especially the longer you’ve been carrying them.
15 Things That Weigh More the Longer You Carry Them
1. Unforgiveness
Harboring resentment toward someone is like clenching a rock in your outstretched hand. The longer you hold onto it, the heavier it feels.
Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself, freeing you from that weight.
2. Debt
Financial debt can be suffocating—and because of interest, it often increases stress over time. Not dealing with it can result in a life that feels both tight and limited.
Address it head-on, create a plan, and relieve that burden.
3. Pride
The weight of our own ego often blinds us to our own faults. Pride makes us defensive and prevents us from growing. Admitting we don’t know it all is liberating, lightens our emotional load, and provides opportunity to find help.
4. Negative Self-Image
Feeling bad about yourself consumes a lot of mental energy. Every time you look in the mirror and feel discontent, it adds to that weight.
The first step toward change is acceptance and love for who you are now. You’re not perfect—nobody is. But if you’re trying your best, you deserve more credit than you give yourself.
5. Perfectionism
The constant quest for perfection can be a never-ending cycle that only sets you up for disappointment. Over time, it steals joy and adds undue stress to your life.
Pursue progress, not perfection. After all, the only way to achieve perfection is to start making progress.
6. Fear of Failure
The fear of failure can paralyze us into inaction. The longer we hold onto this fear, the more we deprive ourselves of opportunities for growth and happiness.
I believe so strongly in the importance of recognizing this distraction, I included an entire chaper on the distraction of fear in Things That Matter.
7. Procrastination
The burden of tasks left undone can grow heavier each day. They hang over us, affecting our mood and our confidence.
Take the first step, no matter how small.
8. Regret
When we live in the past, we carry the weight of our previous mistakes.
Learning from them is beneficial, but dwelling on them is detrimental.
9. Jealousy
Jealousy often creates a cycle of negative thinking and unproductive actions. The longer you allow jealousy to linger, the more it will tarnish your happiness.
10. Social Comparisons
The need to keep up with others takes a toll. Social media doesn’t help, as it presents an unattainable standard. Limit your consumption and focus on your own journey.
11. Negativity
Negative thoughts attract negative outcomes. The more you focus on what could go wrong, the less room you have for positive actions and reactions.
12. Unfulfilling Relationships
Relationships that don’t add value to our lives end up draining our energy. Sometimes the healthiest thing to do is to walk away. It is certainly important that we have relationships where we selflessly serve and love, but there are times when holding onto a relationship is only adding weight.
13. Guilt and Shame
While they serve as indicators that we’ve done something wrong, prolonged feelings of guilt and shame can be debilitating. Seek to make amends, find a remedy, and then let them go.
14. Unresolved Conflict
Conflict that is not dealt with becomes heavier over time. Address issues directly and honestly, aiming for resolution and a lighter emotional state.
15. The Need to Be Right
The need to always be right can isolate us and make every interaction a power struggle. Being wrong occasionally doesn’t make you less of a person. In fact, it makes you a smarter one.
If any of these burdens resonate with you, take action today. Even if it’s a small step, it’s still progress.
I assure you, on the other side of these burdens is a life of peace, joy, and purpose. So start unloading these weights today and feel the freedom and lightness that come with it.
