This week I share with you Tip #10 from Ten Self-Care Tips: Looking for Sane Practices in Times of Insane Demands – Know when to let go.

Not everything is meant to last. Some activities—and some people—enter our lives. They enrich our lives and maybe challenge us to grow. They contribute to our well-being and energize us. Then there may come a time when we need to let go and move on. Sometimes their purpose has been fulfilled. If we don’t, hanging on can undo the good we’ve enjoyed. And some things were never right for us, but we got involved without thinking. We need to disengage.

Self-care may mean you need to walk away. It may be a job, a relationship with someone, a volunteer commitment or other experience. I once left a job that I really loved because I knew I was burned out. I needed to leave. I had been getting sick with a bad cold or flu every other month. Once I decided to quit and I gave notice (a full two-month notice), I no longer got sick. And the real tell-tale sign came one day when a group of us were standing in the hallway of this office and laughing. A co-worker commented, “Look, Cathay’s laughing.” She turned to me and said, “I haven’t seen you laugh in weeks.” Then another one chimed in and said, “Weeks? It’s been months!!” Yes, my time there was fulfilled, and I had been hanging on too long. Letting go was a good, healthy move for me.

As we near the end of 2024 and set our sights on a new year, it’s a good time to reflect on what we’re doing, what we’re involved in, and how well the lives we’re living match up with our dreams. Sometimes our dreams change. As we gain clarity, we tweak them just a bit. Sometimes we realize they weren’t really our true dreams, we were just following a particular path out of habit, or to satisfy others’ expectations.

So in the remaining weeks of 2024, I encourage you to review your dreams and goals, consider if they are still what you most desire and if they resonate with you. Then consider your current activities and identify anything that may be working against you fulfilling your dreams.

Is there anything you need to let go of? Take a leap of faith, let go, and see what that action opens in your life.