In life, the process of clinging on does more harm than good though we do not see it this way initially. We hold on to possessions for sentimental reasons such as a pair of old shoes given to us by a loved one. The shoes have no grip, are uncomfortable and allow water to gush in but you are unable to throw them away. This inability to let go spreads to intangibles such as deeply held beliefs. In our naivety, we believe the nice woman on television who advertises a certain dietary product designed to rid you of those stubborn extra pounds.

We buy into the idea that it is a great product and its failure to work is down to us. Growing up, we may have had this idea that big brand companies only wanted what was best for us. Deep down, we knew there was no substance to their claims but our belief in them never wavered. This is because these long held beliefs gave us comfort and security. They enabled us to somehow shield ourselves from life’s painful realities.