During the past several years, I’ve seen numerous inspirational quotes and memes about letting go in order to make room for what is meant to enter your life. Some of them revolve around energy: let go of what’s negative in your life to make room for the positive. Some of them refer to letting go of things that may be good for you, yet are taking up space for something better.
I’m not good at letting go and waiting for the next thing. I have learned, although begrudgingly, how to let go. I’ve also experienced how it feels to be forced to let go of some things.
Last week, I let go of something I’d been holding onto that I didn’t realize was weighing me down to the extent it was. Really, it was no big deal. It was something I’d been doing for other people, not something I necessarily wanted to do or enjoyed. Rather, it was more of an obligation—one that has often caused me much frustration. In fact., I’d begun to notice my mood spiraled when I had to do it.
I debated for quite a while about letting go of this thing. I weighed the pros and cons. I wondered what would happen when I quit doing the thing. I considered whether I’d regret letting it go. When it finally came time to make a decision, I simply let go.
The burden immediately lifted. For it to be such a small thing, letting go made a huge difference in how I felt. I realized that I’d made space in my life for something I enjoy by not clinging to something I dreaded.
