Let it go!
This morning, while tending to my garden, I found myself gently plucking away the faded blooms from a row of petunias. Deadheading, they call it—removing what has wilted to make space for something new to grow. And as I stood there, soil on my fingertips and sunlight warming my back, I realised how deeply this act echoed a truth I’ve been learning over the years: to let something thrive, you have to let go of what no longer serves it.
The same principle applies to life. We often carry what we no longer need—memories, ego, habits, shame, the past, people, fear, anger—and wonder why we feel heavy or stuck. Sometimes we’re not held back by the world, but by our own refusal to release.
In the workplace, for instance, ego can be a silent but powerful barrier. It’s invisible, yet unmistakable—people can sense it, feel it in the way we carry ourselves, the tone of our conversations. Ego makes it difficult to collaborate, to grow, to be trusted. I’ve lived through that. Years ago, a colleague who had been my peer was promoted before me. Not only that—I now had to report to them. I was hurt. I felt I deserved that role, and my ego refused to make peace with what had happened. For a while, it became hard to even talk to this person. I thought about switching projects or even leaving the organisation, but deep down I knew the real work wasn’t external—it was within me. This situation could arise again in another setting, another form. What I needed was not to run but to reflect.
Eventually, I came to see that the discomfort I was feeling stemmed from my own resistance. My ego was wounded, yes, but I was also holding myself back by refusing to see where I could improve. Once I accepted this, it was easier to let go of the resentment. The moment I did, the dynamic shifted. I began to interact with my colleague amicably, and to my surprise, things slowly began to align again. It was a humbling experience—and one that taught me that letting go of ego doesn’t mean defeat. It means growth.
The same goes for attitude. The way we carry ourselves—our mindset, our energy—has the power to shape the kind of people and opportunities we attract. A positive, open attitude naturally draws warmth and trust. When we surround ourselves with joy, generosity, and kindness, we flourish. But first, we must be willing to examine how our attitudes impact those around us. If we find that a certain mindset is making us bitter, rigid, or lonely, then maybe—just maybe—it’s time to release it. I recently read an article about the habits of likeable people, and it reminded me that being likeable isn’t about charm or perfection. It’s about being approachable, authentic, and respectful. When we’re trusted, we’re valued. And in the end, that’s what all of us want—to be seen, accepted, and supported.
So often, we’re also weighed down by the past. It might have been painful or beautiful—or both—but it’s gone. And yet, how many of us still live there? We replay conversations, revisit regrets, hold on to the golden years or the heartbreaks, as if keeping them close somehow protects us. But in truth, it only slows us down. It’s only when we begin to release the past—gently, with compassion—that we find ourselves moving forward again. We feel lighter, freer, more ready to embrace what’s ahead.
Sometimes, we lose someone we love. Letting go of that grief feels impossible. I’ve seen people unable to move on, stuck in the ache of what once was. One of my favourite poems by Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan speaks directly to this. In “Jo Beet Gayi So Baat Gayi,” he writes of a beloved star that has faded. He mourns it, but then he looks up at the vastness of the sky and sees that even the heavens don’t grieve the stars that fall. That which is past, is gone. It’s a painful truth, but a liberating one too. When we learn to honour the memory without being bound by it, we step into peace.
Letting go can also be as simple—and as difficult—as changing a habit. I’ve never been addicted to sugar, but I do have a sweet tooth. This year, I promised myself that I’d be more mindful about my health. I decided to reduce my sugar intake, to move more, to take better care of my body. It’s not easy—people joke that I have dessert in my DNA—but something shifted. My desire for a healthier life began to outweigh my craving for the next bite of cake. When change comes from within, letting go becomes not a punishment, but a quiet kind of freedom.
Of course, there are times when what we need to release is a relationship. I was married once—for a short time. It wasn’t working. We both knew it, but we clung to it anyway. Not because there was love, but because there was shame. Because we feared what others would say. Because we didn’t want to be seen as people who couldn’t make it work. For a long time, we stayed—not for each other, but for the fear of letting go. But eventually, we did. And though it hurt, it was also the beginning of healing. I know others who are still stuck in situations like that—held back not by love, but by habit and fear. The truth is, if love has left, it’s kinder to part than to stay out of inertia. We often say we’ve gotten used to each other, but comfort without joy is a slow kind of erosion. Letting go of what’s hurting us is not failure—it’s courage.
Letting go is not as effortless as flicking away a dead bloom. It’s hard. It can be deeply emotional. But at some point in our lives, we all face that moment where we must choose whether to carry something heavy or to set it down and breathe freely again.
Yes, I know it sounds a bit like that Disney anthem — “Let it go, let it go!” But perhaps there’s a reason that song struck such a global chord. Because buried beneath the glitter and melody is a simple, liberating truth: we can’t move forward while clinging to what’s behind us.
For me, the moments when I’ve let go—of ego, habits, shame, sorrow—have been the moments that changed everything. They were not always easy. But they were always right.
If something is holding you back today, I hope you find the strength to let it go. You never know what might bloom in its place. Just let it go!
Further Reading on let it go:
- 10 Things Likeable People Do Consistently
- “Jo Beet Gayi So Baat Gayi” – Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan (English Translation)
