Release and Renewal: The Magic of Letting Go

Unsaid words block magic.

A lifelong struggle for me was a reluctance to have hard conversations, or even simply say something true that might leave the other person thinking differently about me, managing my perception of their perception. The definition of "hard" that I carried was broad and deep, always keeping me from saying the things on my mind, whether it was asking for help or standing my ground in a conversation, even when that conversation was about myself. I had no idea what I was carrying, but even bigger than that was what I had been missing.

There’s a certain magic in the act of letting go. Whether it’s a habit, a belief, a relationship, or even an old way of thinking, when we release something that no longer serves us, we create space for something new to emerge. It’s in this space of release that true renewal takes root.

As this blog is released, I’m wrapping up my time in Costa Rica, where I have intentionally stepped into a space of release and renewal. The journey to this moment has been full of lessons, including the recognition that letting go isn’t always easy, but it’s often necessary. Just days before leaving, I tapped into an aspect of my life that wasn’t a surprise but is a deep calling I’ve sensed for a long time yet haven’t fully embraced. It’s a calling larger than I’ve felt ready to step into, one that I’ve resisted but now realize is part of my path. I trust that the medicine will help me see it more clearly and guide me into living it fully.

Leading up to the retreat, I set aside every Sunday night for a release ritual. Sometimes it involved days of work, and sometimes the release came up at the last minute, but each one was incredibly powerful. The real work starts long before the retreat itself – working with the medicine before being with the medicine.

I’d find the topic for release and explore all sides of it, as if I were doing the finishing touches after a full gut renovation. It wasn’t the wrecking ball approach or the excavation work, but the careful removal of the remnants of an old structure that no longer served me.

Each of these releases created more space for clarity, alignment, and new possibilities. What I’ve learned through this process is that holding on too tightly, to people, to ideas, to the way things “should” be, can often keep us stuck even ever so slightly. We convince ourselves that we need to keep everything under control, believing that dealing with the big stuff is enough. We believe that letting go is a kind of failure or abandonment. We feel like the past, aside from the big things, is meant to stay with us, always defining us. But what if it’s just a part of a puzzle, and that puzzle becomes a full picture of collective wisdom?

Renewal and restoration come when we allow ourselves to release what no longer fits. It’s not always comfortable, and it can sometimes feel like stepping off a cliff without knowing if there’s a net below. But it’s in that leap that we find freedom, freedom to rebuild, realign, and discover what’s next.

In business, I’ve found this to be true again and again. When we let go of old systems, old strategies, or old ways of thinking, we make room for innovation and growth. The same is true in our personal lives. The willingness to let go creates space for renewal, for the next chapter to unfold in ways we might not have anticipated.

The week before leaving for Costa Rica, I sat on that dock, wondering why I never take the time to look up and admire the world around me. I entered the jungle more ready to be surrounded by nature, reflecting on the power of awareness, presence, and release. With each step into the jungle, I felt the layers fall away, revealing the clarity that comes when we allow ourselves to simply be - aware, present, and open to letting go.

I encourage you to consider: What’s something in your life you’ve been holding onto that no longer serves you? What would it look like to let it go? And how might releasing it create the space for something new and beautiful to emerge?

Letting go isn’t about giving up, it’s about making room for what’s next and claiming the collective wisdom that will lead you into a life beyond your wildest dreams.