Letting go without feeling like a failure

Lately, I’ve been staring at the trees in my backyard as the leaves start to change. Some are a deep maroon, others golden, and every day more and more are falling. What struck me is that the tree isn’t clinging to them. It doesn’t fight to keep what no longer belongs. It trusts the cycle.

That image has been sitting with me. It made me realize how we hold onto expectations, disappointments, and stories about how things “should” have gone even when they no longer serve us. When we cling, we end up carrying so much extra weight.

For me, this year hasn’t looked the way I thought it would. Maybe you can relate. I realized that ruminating on what didn’t happen isn’t helping me create what can still happen. So I’m practicing letting go as an act of wisdom and self-trust.

Here’s what I’m trying:

• Writing down something heavy I’ve been carrying, then tearing up the paper as a symbolic release

• Separating what’s no longer for me in this season from what I might return to later

• Giving myself permission to loosen my grip on outdated expectations of myself and others

I’m creating space for what’s next.

If you want more on this, this week’s podcast episode is for you.

👉 Listen to Episode 110: Letting Go Without Feeling Like Failure

Let’s release what no longer fits, and create space for what matters most.

✍️ JOURNAL PROMPTS

What am I carrying that feels heavy?

Which expectations can I loosen my grip on?

What would it feel like to not have this weighing on me anymore?

🤖 CHATGPT PROMPT

Copy this prompt and paste it into ChatGPT or your fave AI tool. Remember, the more context you provide about yourself and your situation, the more robust results you’ll receive.

“Act as a values-based decision coach. I’ve been holding onto [describe the burden, expectation, or story]. I want to explore what it would mean to let it go. Guide me through three reflective questions that help me see what’s possible if I release it, and suggest one small ritual or action I can take today to practice letting go in a meaningful way.”