Letting go is often talked about like it’s a single, dramatic moment of release—a bold decision, a final goodbye. But in truth, the art of letting go is something we practise, little by little, every single day.
It’s not a destination, but a daily choice to loosen our grip on the things we can’t control and trust in the ebb and flow of life.
Here are 10 practical and soulful ways to bring the art of letting go into your everyday life.
1. Notice and Name What You’re Holding On To
The first step to letting go is to become aware of what you’re actually gripping. This could be a grudge, an expectation, a version of the past, or the illusion of control. Simply noticing and naming what you’re holding onto—“I’m clinging to being right in that conversation,” or “I’m holding onto how things should’ve gone” shifts the energy.
Bringing conscious awareness to your attachments is like turning on a light in a dark room. You don’t have to fix anything just yet. Just notice. That alone is powerful.
2. Breathe Into the Feeling Instead of Resisting It
When we feel uncomfortable emotions arise, our first instinct is often to push them away. But letting go means doing the opposite: welcoming the discomfort, breathing into it, and giving it space to move through.
Next time you feel tension, anxiety, or sadness rise up, take a moment to pause. Close your eyes, place a hand on your chest, and breathe. Let your breath soften the intensity. Sometimes, the only thing that needs to be let go of is the resistance itself.
3. Accept What Is, As It Is
Acceptance doesn’t mean defeat. It means acknowledging reality without denying, resisting, or trying to rewrite it. Life happens on its own terms—not always as we plan. The more we argue with what is, the more we suffer.
Try saying to yourself: “This is what’s happening. I don’t have to like it, but I can meet it with presence.” This gentle reframing invites peace without needing everything to be perfect.
4. Stop the Replay and Come Back to Now
The mind loves to replay old conversations, mistakes, or regrets on a loop. But those mental re-runs keep us stuck in the past. Letting go means interrupting the cycle of rumination and bringing your awareness back to the here and now.
If you find yourself spiralling into “what if” or “if only,” gently redirect your focus. Engage with your senses: feel your feet on the ground, notice the warmth of your coffee, listen to the sounds around you. The present moment is where healing begins.
5. Let Go of the Need to Control Everything
Control is a tempting illusion. We like to believe that if we manage all the moving parts just right, life will unfold without hiccups. But true peace comes when we realize we don’t have to micromanage the universe.
Try this as a daily practice: Choose one thing to let go of today. Maybe it’s your schedule, your to-do list, or someone else’s opinion. Step back, breathe, and observe what happens. You may find that life carries you anyway.
6. Create Small Rituals of Release
Letting go is easier when you give it form. Rituals help translate emotional intention into action. At the end of your day, take five minutes to reflect: What weighed you down today? What are you ready to release?
You might write it in a journal, say it aloud, or visualize it floating away like a balloon. You could even write it on a slip of paper and toss it into the bin. Ritual doesn’t have to be grand—it just needs to be meaningful.
7. Practice Forgiveness—Even in the Small Things
Forgiveness is one of the most liberating forms of letting go. It’s not about excusing harmful behavior or pretending nothing happened. It’s about deciding you no longer want to carry the weight of resentment.
Forgiveness can start with small gestures—like forgiving the driver who cut you off, the friend who forgot to reply, or yourself for not being “perfect.” Every act of forgiveness is a lightening of the load.
8. Embrace the Impermanence of All Things
One of the deepest truths we can embrace is this: everything changes. The good, the bad, the beautiful and the difficult, all of it is temporary. Clinging creates suffering. But recognizing the impermanence of life can soften that grasp.
Try repeating the mantra “This too shall pass” when life feels overwhelming. It’s not just a comfort, but a reminder that the wheel keeps turning, and every moment is a visitor passing through.
9. Detach from the Outcome, Focus on the Process
So much of our tension comes from trying to control how things turn out. Whether it’s a creative project, a conversation, or a life goal, we fixate on the result and miss the experience.
Instead, shift your focus to the action itself. Show up, give your best, and release the rest. This is the true essence of surrender—engagement without attachment.
10. Be Gentle With Yourself on the Journey
Letting go is not a perfect process. Some days you’ll feel like you’ve moved on. Other days you’ll find yourself clinging again. This is part of the human condition.
Treat yourself with tenderness. Letting go doesn’t mean you won’t feel pain. It means you choose not to carry it forever. Give yourself grace as you unlearn the habit of holding on.
In Closing
Letting go isn’t something you master in a day. It’s a lifelong practice of loosening, softening, surrendering, and returning to the present moment with open hands. In the quiet repetition of these small acts, we find a deeper kind of strength: the strength to live with peace, presence, and trust.
And that’s what living The Calm Life is all about.
