Letting Go on Purpose

Last week, I wasn’t at meetings or crossing off my to-do list. I was in bed - sick, tired, and reminded of a lesson I keep learning, sometimes accepting the challenge means letting go.

It can look like saying no. Asking for help. Receiving help. Prioritizing rest and basic needs instead of pushing through to meet everyone else’s. That is not quitting; it’s clarity. It’s kindness. It’s courage.

The Question I Ask Every Year

In my annual planning workshop, there’s a reflection that always lands well. 

What will you stop doing? 

What do you want less of in the coming year?

We’re good at naming what we should do or could do. We don’t often name what we’ll release. But that’s the pivot that creates room for what actually matters.

The Holiday Pressure Cooker

This season comes with layers - family expectations, year-end deadlines, community commitments. If you’re in direct service or mission-driven work, you’re likely carrying other people’s urgency, too.

Here’s your permission slip: drop some balls. Choose less. Do less. Not forever, just enough to return to yourself.

What I Let Go Of

Years ago I stopped sending holiday cards. Designing, printing, addressing - it added stress and didn’t feel true to the spirit of the season. Letting it go didn’t mean I loved people less. It meant I chose peace and presence over performance. It’s been freeing ever since.

Your Turn

As the year closes, ask yourself:

• What will I let go of so I can experience more peace, happiness, and fulfillment?

  
  

• What do I want less of in 2026?

  
  

• Which expectations aren’t mine? (Whose voices am I carrying that I can set down?)

  
  

There’s no right answer, only the best answer for you. Trust that you know what you need. Let go of the rest.

If you’ve found value in what I wrote here and you want to support me in continuing to create, guide, write, and make space for deeper transformation, I invite you to buy me a tea.

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