There are so many things that we keep on thinking again and again even if we don't want to. It's because we don't unload the unwanted things just like we do when the luggage is heavy. In the same way when the heart is heavy we have to reduce the emotional baggage. In the first place we have to leave that emotion at that place at which it occurred.  Why do we carry those things from which we don't get anything in return, except pain. That is not going to give me a pleasure then why on earth am I carrying that. It's not fair, at least for myself.

A story came in the vicinity of my mind while thinking about this.

        Once there was a sage who wanted to go to  forest where they wanted to visit a temple. He needed a companion for his journey so he asked one of his disciple and they both started their journey. The journey includes one of the river stream which they have to cross.

The journey went smoothly with comfortable roads, little talks, fresh breeze, all were good to their optimum levels required to enjoy their journey. After a few miles of walking they came near the river stream which they have to cross. Meanwhile there was a young lady, she was naturally beautiful with bright eyes who also was trying to cross the stream. When these two Sadhus went near the stream that lady asked for help to cross the river as she did not know swimming and the stream was flowing at its maximum speed which makes the woman difficult to cross the stream. The Guru refused to help because he is a brahma Chari and according to the rituals he should not touch a woman body, but his disciple without thinking for a fraction of second he came for her help. He lifted that lady in his own arms and helped her cross the stream. 

After that incident the Guru and his disciple continued their journey to their pre decided destination. But there was something running in the mind of guru, even if he tried to hide this fact his face was saying it all. After all the struggles he asked his disciple, how can you do this? .

His disciple asked calmly what I did?

Guru: How can you touch a lady being a sadhu?

Disciple: Which lady Guru?

Guru: which lady? you don't remember that young beautiful lady whom you helped near the river stream.

Disciple: oh that lady. Yes I helped her

Guru: That's what, how can you touch a woman body being a sage.

Disciple gave a pleasing answer to his guru,

“Guru, I left that lady long ago near that river stream only. But knowingly or unknowingly, you are the one who is still carrying that lady in your mind. You carried that lady for a longer time than me, in your thoughts.”

What can we get out of this story, that we carry many negative things such as anger, fear, rejection, betrayal, questions like what if I fail, what if I don't match the expectations of family, society, so many more in our memory longer than they actually deserve.

Try to reduce the emotional baggage in your mind by leaving the unwanted things which drains your energy and time. There are so many amazing things in our life which are worth carrying of, focus on them.