Let It Go. (How To Actually Do That)

"Just let it go."

How many times have you received that seemingly simple wisdom in your life? For me personally, and judging by what I hear from my coaching clients every day, probably a lot.

So yah, "letting go" often seems like a good thing to do — but why?

And more importantly, how?

First, the Why:

You don't need me to tell you why letting certain things go feels right to you. You intuitively already know why. That's why you want to do it.

But just in case it's not feeling quite worth it to let it — whatever the "it" of the moment is for you — go yet, here are a few reasons you might consider loosening your grip.

Clinging feels bad.

This list could stop right here. Isn't the fact that it's making you feel bad enough reason to stop doing it to yourself?

The thing you no longer need is taking up the space of something you really want.

Life can't bring you more good stuff if the “OK” stuff — or worse — is blocking the door.

Holding on is weighing you down.

Hanging onto something you know it's time to release is a literal drag.

It's served its purpose.

Thank it — whether it's the relationship you've outgrown or the shirt you never wear anymore — and move on.

Letting go is not the same as giving up.

You gave the relationship that just doesn't feel right in your gut or the client who drains your energy every session a genuine try. If it doesn't feel right in your bones, you're allowed to let it go, no apologies required.

There's no shame in letting go of something that truly doesn't serve you.

There are no gold stars for martyrdom. Whether it's the job you feel too guilty to give notice at or the tubes of lipstick that it turns out look terrible on you, you're allowed to cut the chord and let it go.

It's going to "go" sometime anyway.

You can't take it with you. Wouldn't it feel better to choose to release it on your own timeline?

Next, the How:

Decide.

First, you have to decide that the discomfort of letting go of your current comfort zone is worth it. You have to be willing to risk a little (or a lot) of discomfort for the sake of what you truly want.

Be gentle with yourself.

Beating yourself up doesn't help you let go. Surrender needs space, not constriction. Lighten up on yourself.

Don't force it.

Set the intention to loosen your death grip on what you want, and allow the tendrils to soften around it.

Decide (again).

The way you let go is ... you let go. You stop pushing; forcing; contracting. You breathe; relax; allow life to move through you.

Trust that something even better can come.

Of course we're not willing to let go of what we have if we fear nothing better will ever come. Trust that there's plenty to go around and something even better around the bend.

Once you truly decide to let go, it's actually pretty simple. If clinging is causing you pain, press pause and reassess:

How do you want to feel? Trust, release, and let yourself feel the expansion.

(Because you're strong and spacious enough to handle it.)

Lots of Love,

Melissa

PS – If you enjoyed this post, thank you for passing it along to someone who might get a boost from it.