To move forwards, we must first let go of the things that are holding us back. Up until a few years ago I didn't quite understand what it meant, even though I'd heard similar words spoken throughout my life.

After a long and constant battle with depression, I suddenly had an epiphany one night. I found the answer I was looking for and it changed my life forever.

Sometimes the things holding us back are the exact things we think are going to help us thrive in the future. I call them my unhealthy obsessions, and I want to speak about a few in case they can help you.

Don't Be In A Rush To Find A Career

Will it make any difference if you find your perfect career now versus finding it a decade down the line? Maybe it would have in the past, but it's okay to be clueless when it comes to what you're going to do for the rest of your life. Sending yourself into a downwards spiral because you are confused is only going to hurt you, so stop obsessing over your future no matter how hard it sounds. They've found life doesn't even begin until you're in your thirties.

Solution: Do whatever feels right and eventually you'll find your calling. It might not happen until you're a lot older, so instead of stressing you should just enjoy what you're doing now.

Liking What You See In The Mirror

If you like what you see when you look in the mirror it's a good thing. When you don't find the person staring back at you attractive it can quickly consume your life. Every time you see someone you think is more beautiful than you it feels like you're being stabbed through the heart, so you become addicted to makeup and waste hours of your life watching YouTube tutorials.

Solution: Realise you're not the one who needs to find yourself attractive. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and if you look around you'll know there really is someone out there for everyone.

Eating Healthy Food Isn't Always Healthy

Do you really think you only have a problem if you're either too skinny or overweight? Maybe you're considered healthy from a physical standpoint if you are a certain body fat percentage, but it could be crippling your mind. If you can't go out with your friends because you're scared to eat a slice of pizza there is something wrong. The social media world we live in today doesn't help with orthorexia.

Solution: You only need to eat healthy foods 90 percent of the time. Even though you might deem the rest of the food you eat unhealthy, it's important for your mental health and won't cause you any harm.

It's Impossible To Please Everyone

Some people aren't going to like you very much. Even friends and family can turn around and hurt you when you're at your most vulnerable. They won't think twice when they let you down at the times when you need them most. Stop going out of your way to please those people because you think you owe them something. Nobody in the world deserves anything from you, so choose carefully who you let into your life.

Solution: Trying to please people is almost like a subconscious obsession. It's hard to know you're doing it and noticing the negative impact it's having on your life. It might be hard, but cut certain people out of your life and you'll instantly feel relieved.

Stop Living In A Fantasy World

I think the majority of us are living in a fantasy world. We are obsessed with the future and we build our entire life around it, except there is only one problem. The future doesn't even exist yet, so you're waiting for something that might never happen. This is so painful because it stops us from living in the now where we belong. You're slowly wasting your life away.

Solution: There must be one thing you've been putting off for a while that doesn't involve much money or travel. Make sure you do it tomorrow. What is stopping you? If you don't do it tomorrow, you might never do it.

Watch How Fast Your Life Evolves

As soon as the obsessions holding you back are gone your entire life will change. In the beginning, it will feel like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders. The stress and anxiety will slowly fade away until you can see more clearly than you've ever experienced in your life. You will finally be able to truly enjoy yourself for the first time in a while.