Let’s get real for a second—letting go is hard.

We cling to things—jobs, relationships, habits, expectations—not because they’re good for us but because they’re familiar. Change, even when we know we need it, is uncomfortable.

But here’s the truth: holding onto things that no longer serve us isn’t just keeping us stuck—it’s weighing us down.Imagine trying to climb a mountain while carrying a backpack full of bricks. Now imagine someone telling you, “Hey, you don’t have to carry those.” That’s what letting go feels like. Lighter. Freer. Full of possibility.

So why is it so hard? And how do we actually do it?

Step One: Identify What’s Taking Up Space

Before we can let go, we must be honest about what we hold onto. This isn’t just about stuff (though decluttering your closet can be oddly therapeutic). It’s about:

• Limiting beliefs that keep us small
• Relationships that drain instead of nourish
• Old goals that no longer fit who we are
• Stories we tell ourselves about what’s possible

Ask yourself: What am I carrying that no longer aligns with who I want to become? If something makes you feel heavy, anxious, or stuck—it might be time to release it.

Step Two: Accept That Letting Go Doesn’t Mean Giving Up

Somewhere along the way, we learned that letting go equates to failure, that ending something means we didn’t try hard enough, and that moving on is selfish.

But here’s the truth: walking away from what isn’t right for you is an act of courage. It’s trusting that there’s something better on the other side. It’s choosing growth over stagnation. It’s making room for what actually fits.

Letting go isn’t giving up—it’s leveling up.

Step Three: Make Peace with the Discomfort (Because Your Brain Thinks Change is Danger)

Let’s be honest—letting go isn’t always immediate relief. Sometimes it’s messy. Sometimes it’s painful. Sometimes, it’s second-guessing your decision at 2 a.m. with a tub of ice cream in hand.

But discomfort doesn’t mean you made the wrong choice. It means you’re in transition. It means you’re rewiring old patterns. And it means you’re moving forward.

Here’s something wild: your brain actually registers change the same way it registers physical pain. Even when a change is good for you, your brain sees it as a threat because it disrupts what’s familiar. This is why staying in a toxic situation can feel “easier” than stepping into the unknown—because the known is predictable, and the brain likes predictable.

But predictable doesn’t always mean right.

The good news? That pain is temporary. The more we push through discomfort, the more we retrain our brain to see change not as danger but as growth.

So when you feel the resistance—the ache of leaving something behind—remind yourself: This is just my brain adjusting. This isn’t a sign to stop.

Step Four: Create Space for What’s Next

Nature abhors a vacuum, and so does life. When we let go of what no longer serves us, we create space for new opportunities, new relationships, and new growth.

So, instead of focusing on what you’re losing, ask yourself: What am I making room for?

• A career that excites you instead of draining you?
• Relationships that uplift instead of deplete?
• A mindset that empowers instead of limiting you?

Letting go isn’t just about releasing—it’s about receiving.

Step Five: Trust That You’ll Be Okay (Because You Always Have Been)

Think about every time you thought, I’ll never get through this—and then you did.

You’ve let go before. You’ve walked away before. You’ve survived endings that once felt impossible. And every time, you’ve grown.

You’ll do it again. And this time? You’ll do it with more intention, grace, and trust in yourself.

Because the truth is, the things we fear losing the most are often the very things standing between us and the life we’re meant to live.

So, take a deep breath. Unclench your grip. And let go.

Something beautiful is waiting on the other side.