𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗬: The Art of Unlearning by Chrissa Jean A. Salvador

 

Published by: Jeralaine G. Larios

Date Published: August 6, 2025

Time Published: 5:04 PM

 

Category: Prose

Subject: Letting go of old ideas to make space for new growth

We often talk about learning, about filling our minds with new ideas and facts. But I’ve come to realize there's a different kind of skill that’s just as important, and it rarely gets the same attention: the art of “unlearning.” It's not about forgetting everything you know; it's the act of letting go of the things that are holding you back.

I think of my own mind like an old closet. Over the years, I’ve filled it with all sorts of stuff—old fears that have no basis in reality, beliefs I picked up long ago that just don’t fit anymore, and assumptions about myself that have held me back from trying new things. These are the things that take up space and clutter my perspective.

Unlearning is like finally cleaning out that closet. It's the moment you realize that an old fear you've carried for years is actually baseless. It’s the courage to question a belief you’ve held your whole life because it might be limiting your view of the world. It’s understanding that the way you’ve always done something might not be the best way after all. It’s about overcoming those old voices inside your head saying, "𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵," and whispering back, “𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯.”

This process can feel a bit scary and even uncomfortable. It takes courage to admit that something you once believed might not be right. But when you create that space, when you let go of those old limits, you’re not just getting rid of things—you’re making room for something new and better. You allow yourself to grow, to see things differently, and to understand yourself and others in a deeper way. This art of 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 isn’t about being empty. It's about becoming truly free.