Letting Go Isn't Giving Up - It's Getting Honest

We don’t talk enough about what it really means to let go, especially when what you’re letting go of is something you’ve worked hard for. Something you used to love. Something people expect from you.

We’re wired to push through. To keep proving we can handle it. To keep saying yes even when every part of us is waving the white flag.

But here’s a truth that changed my life:

Letting go doesn’t mean giving up. It means choosing alignment over appearance. It means acknowledging that just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

I remember the season when I decided to leave a role I was deeply proud of. One that looked shiny and successful on the outside. I had earned it. Worked hard for it. And I was afraid to let it go, afraid people would think I couldn’t hack it or wasn’t grateful for all the opportunities it had presented.

But I was tired. Not "I need a nap" tired. Soul-tired. I had reached the point where I wasn’t showing up fully in any part of my life; not at work, not at home, and not even for myself.

I was starting to feel like I had to keep performing just to justify being in the room. And honestly? That’s when I realized the cost had become too high.

So I did something I never imagined: I stopped trying to hold it all together, and I let the truth catch up to me. I didn’t walk away; I made a list of what I needed to be successful in the season I was in, and I searched for it. I stopped over-functioning to earn my place and started asking what aligned with my capacity, not just my ambition. What did I need, what did my family need, what had to go? At the entry point to this season, Presence Over Perfection, I had to let go of traveling so much.

And here’s what I want you to know:

✨ Letting go doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re getting honest about what you can carry right now. It means you’re making space for what matters most in this season.

Letting go also isn't always letting go of something big; it can be the little things. For instance, scrolling on Instagram too long at night because you stay up and can't function the next day. Just saying. It can be letting go of the "always available" and setting boundaries.

Think of something you’re holding right now—an obligation, an expectation, a role. Ask yourself:

“Am I carrying this out of love, or out of habit, fear, or guilt?”

If it’s the latter, maybe just maybe, it’s time to loosen your grip.

You don’t have to walk away in dramatic fashion. Sometimes, letting go simply looks like:

• Saying, "I don’t have the capacity for this right now."

• Delegating.

• Pausing.

• Letting others rise where you’ve always stepped in.

If you're unsure how to do that, here are some graceful exit phrases that can help:

• “I’ve realized that in this season, I need to pause this commitment to preserve my energy for what matters most.”

• “This role has meant a lot to me, and that’s why I want to transition with intention and respect.”

• “I’ve been carrying more than I realized, and I want to make sure I’m being honest about what I can realistically sustain.”

• “This isn’t a no forever, it’s a not right now.”

And yes, people might be surprised. They might even be disappointed. But that discomfort? It’s not your burden to carry.

You can disappoint others without betraying yourself. You can choose peace without explanation. You can shift and it not be because you’re weak, but because you’re wise enough to recognize what no longer fits.

Here’s what I want to remind you of if guilt creeps in:

Guilt doesn’t always mean you’ve done something wrong. Sometimes it just means you’re doing something different from what others expected—or what you’ve always done.

Different doesn’t mean wrong. It means growth.

So here’s your invitation: Name one thing you’re letting go of—temporarily or not. Write it down. Share it with someone. Or drop it in the comments.

You’re not failing. You’re evolving.

#LettingGo #PermissionToPause #SeasonalLiving #WomenInLeadership #TruthTellers #RedefiningSuccess#LettingGo #PermissionToPause #SeasonalLiving #WomenInLeadership #TruthTellers #RedefiningSuccess