Level Up: How To Let Go Of What No Longer Serves You

Are you feeling stuck, frustrated, and unfulfilled?

Do you feel like you’re carrying around a heavy backpack filled with bricks?

Be it physical possessions, toxic relationships, or unhealthy habits, we all sometimes cling to things in life even when we know they’re no longer serving us.

Why?

Because letting go is so damn hard. 

Our brains are wired to seek comfort and familiarity, so we often choose to cling to something painful rather than let go and enter the unknown.

But fear not. There are practical steps you can take to let go of what’s holding you back and unlock your true potential, which I’m sharing in this week’s article and YouTube video.

I’m breaking down the process of letting go into three clear steps, starting with…

Step 1: Identifying What No Longer Serves You

Many of us feel stuck and frustrated with life without actually knowing what is causing these feelings.

So, the first step is determining what is holding you back.

One way we can do so is by looking at the three common signs that something in our life is no longer working:

1. Constant Stress – Is something in your life consistently causing you stress or anxiety?
2. Lack of Joy – Is there something you used to enjoy but no longer do? Does it now drain you rather than uplift you?
3. Feeling Stuck – Is there an area of your life where you feel like you’re not progressing or growing?

Next, let’s look at the three main categories of things we tend to cling to:

1. Physical items – Are there items in your home or workspace that you no longer use or need? These things could be causing mental clutter as well as taking up mental space.
2. Emotional baggage – Are you experiencing feelings of guilt, regret, or resentment? These can be signs of unresolved emotions, grudges, and past experiences weighing you down.
3. Toxic relationships – Are there any people in your life who make you feel bad about yourself or leave you feeling drained after spending time with them?

Take some time to journal on these questions using the self-reflection exercise I share in the video episode.

Step Two: The Emotional Challenge of Letting Go

As I said earlier, letting go is never easy.

Letting go goes beyond the physical action; it is a deeply emotional process, as letting go means facing the unknown.

As humans, we naturally fear change. This fear brings up all sorts of anxieties: What will happen if we let go? What will fill the void? Will we regret it?

That’s why even when we know something is no longer serving us, continuing to hold onto it feels like the safer option.

So, to overcome this emotional challenge, we must identify and address the excuses, limiting beliefs, and narratives that keep us stuck.

For example, if it’s a physical possession you’re struggling to let go of, the excuse might be, ‘I might need it someday.’ 

Or if it’s a toxic relationship you’re dealing with, you might tell yourself, ‘They might change if I just give it more time.’

While we create these narratives to justify our reluctance to let go, we continue investing our energy in things that drain us rather than uplift us.

To overcome this, we need to reframe our mindset.

Instead of viewing letting go as a loss, we need to focus on the potential benefits by asking ourselves:

• What positive changes could come from releasing this burden? 
• How might my life improve? 

Let’s try a quick exercise…

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine your life without the thing you’re struggling to let go of. Picture the space it creates, the weight lifted off your shoulders, and the new opportunities that could arise. 

How does it feel? 

This visualization helps us shift our mindset to see letting go as an opportunity for growth and new possibilities.

Now let me be clear: this is NOT meal prepping. I know you don’t have time to dedicate a whole afternoon to preparing meals for the week.

Step Three: Practical Strategies for Letting Go

Once you’ve shifted your mindset, you can try some practical exercises for letting go of what’s holding you back.

Let’s start with physical possessions.

If your physical space is impacting your wellbeing but decluttering feels overwhelming, try these tips:

• Start Small: Instead of tackling everything at once, begin with one small area, such as your desk, closet, or a single drawer. 
• Use The Three-Box Method: Label three boxes ‘Keep,’ ‘Donate,’ and ‘Trash.’ As you go through your items, place them in the appropriate box. If you get stuck, ask yourself when you last used the item. If you haven’t used something in the past year, consider putting it in the ‘donate’ or ‘trash’ box.
• Set a Timer: If decluttering feels overwhelming, set a timer for 15-30 minutes. A small amount of time like this will feel much more doable.

Now, let’s discuss how to let go of toxic relationships.

1. Identify the relationships you need to release in your life: Are there people who consistently drain your energy or make you feel bad about yourself? Pinpoint the specific behaviors that negatively impact you.
2. Set boundaries: Establish clear boundaries with these individuals, such as limiting your time with them or avoiding specific topics of conversation.
3. Gradually distance yourself: If cutting ties completely isn’t an option, spend less time with them and more time with people who uplift you.
4. Seek support: Don’t hesitate to contact a therapist or counselor to navigate these challenging relationships.

Lastly, let’s address how to overcome emotional baggage. 

Often, these issues have deep emotional roots with limiting beliefs and mental blocks. Here are some steps to identifying and overcoming these limiting beliefs:

1. Grab a pen and paper and write down all your current negative beliefs about yourself, such as ‘I’m not good enough,’ ‘I’ll never succeed,’ or ‘I can’t change.’
2. For each one, ask yourself, ‘Is this belief true?’ ‘What evidence do I have to support it?’ Often, you’ll find that these beliefs are not based on facts.
3. Replace these limiting beliefs with new, positive beliefs that empower you, such as ‘I am capable,’ ‘I can achieve my goals,’ or ‘I am worthy of success.’
4. Use daily affirmations and visualization techniques to reinforce these new beliefs. Say them out loud in the mirror every morning and regularly visualize yourself succeeding and living the life you desire.

Final Thoughts

As Deepak Chopra said in the Book of Secrets: “In the process of letting go, you will lose many things from the past, but you will find yourself.“

Therefore, the trick to letting go of what no longer serves us is to change our perspective.  

Rather than obsessing over what you might lose by letting go, focus on the freedom and new possibilities you will gain.

For more in-depth explanations of the techniques in this article and my personal stories of letting go, watch the full YouTube video:

I’d love to know which health hack you will incorporate into your daily routine straight away. Leave a comment below to let me know!

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