THE POWER OF LETTING GO

Picture Credit: https://unsplash.com/@an_ku_sh

Embracing New Beginnings

Eight months ago, I made the decision to sell my old business. For 15 years, I had poured my heart and soul into it. But over time, I realized that the industry I had been part of no longer brought me joy. It was a very stressful business and the pressure had started to wear me down. Despite the success it had brought me, I knew deep down it was time to move on.

At the time, it felt like the biggest step I had ever taken and although the day to day running of that business had gone, there was still one thing left: the lady who bought it continued to rent the room attached to my house. So, for all these months, I have been holding onto something that no longer served me.

Today, she finally moved everything out. It was a final, tangible moment of letting go. It wasn’t just about the space she vacated, but about releasing a part of my past that had quietly lingered in the background. And as I stood there, witnessing this physical change, I realised how much of our lives are affected by the things we hold onto, sometimes unknowingly.

Letting go is not just about decluttering our homes or our workspaces; it is about creating space within ourselves to welcome new things, new possibilities, and new opportunities. It’s easy to get attached to the familiar, even when it no longer brings us joy or growth. We hold on to outdated relationships, routines and expectations because they feel safe, even if they are preventing us from moving forward.

More often than not, we hold on out of fear, the fear of the unknown, fear of failure. As the saying goes, “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” We stay in situations, whether they are jobs, relationships, or friendships, that no longer serve us simply because we are afraid of what might happen if we let go. It is all too easy to cling to what is familiar, even when it is uncomfortable, because the fear of stepping into something unknown feels too overwhelming.

But here is the truth: everything in life changes. It is the nature of life. Relationships, businesses, jobs, they all evolve and sometimes we must evolve with them or learn to let go. Staying in a place of discomfort because we are afraid of change does not honour the growth we are capable of. It is okay to move on, to let go and to allow ourselves the space to grow. It is part of the process and it is often the only way forward.

This brings me to the power of trusting in the process, one of the foundational attitudes of mindfulness. Sometimes, when we let go of something familiar, we are unsure of what lies ahead. But we have to trust ourselves and that life and our own capabilities are guiding us. It is through this trust that we give ourselves permission to release, to stop striving for perfection or a predefined idea of how things “should” be. There is no right way, only the way that unfolds as we move through life with acceptance and compassion for ourselves.

Another mindfulness attitude that resonates here is non-striving. We live in a world that constantly encourages us to achieve, to push forward and to "get things right." But sometimes, it is the act of simply being, without striving for any particular outcome, that opens up the space for growth. By letting go of the need to control every aspect of life, we allow ourselves to flow with what is, trusting that each moment has its own wisdom.

This is where the concept of the beginner's mind comes in. When we approach life with the openness and curiosity of a beginner, free from preconceived notions and attachments, we invite more joy, more connection and more clarity. A beginner’s mind sees every experience as new and full of potential, rather than something weighed down by the past.

As I stood there in the empty room, I felt a lightness I had not expected. It wasn’t just the physical space that had changed, but the space within me. I felt more open to new things, new opportunities and new ways of thinking. Letting go of what no longer serves us is not always easy, but it is always worth it. It is the first step toward living with a more open, present heart.

So, if you are holding on to something, whether it is a relationship, a job, or a belief that no longer serves you, I invite you to take a moment today to reflect. What could you release, both physically and mentally, to make room for something new?

Let go, trust the process, and embrace the possibilities that await you. Remember, the sky’s your limit and then it’s not!