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Let it Go
Lately, I have been teaching myself to do the impossible, and that is to let go of any and everything bringing me down. This includes negative feelings, thoughts and even people.
Let me tell you, it has not been easy.
I consider myself to be a perfectionist. I’ll even go a step further and say I can be a bit of a control-freak. I’ve always been somewhat of a leader and rarely a follower. You know that question they often ask during job interviews? “What would you describe as your strength and weakness?” Well, I would always admit to my prospective employer that my greatest downfall is having trouble relying on other people. There was no way I was going to let Billy or Katie be responsible for anything with my name on it. I was a firm believer that if you want something done right you should just do it yourself. It was my way or the highway *hair flip*
I know, I KNOW. What a brat, right?
A few months ago after some major life changes it suddenly dawned on me. There are just some things I can’t control. Namely, other people. After I became single, I slowly but steadily grew estranged from some of my closest group of friends. And it killed me. In fact, it still sometimes does. There’s a million sides to everyone’s story and although I’ve tried to make sense of it and do my best to mend bridges, I’ve just had to accept it is what it is, and let it go. I’ve taken this mindset to pretty much all areas of my life. If a potential client declines my {quite fair} quote? Let it go. If I’ve had a less-than stellar day at work and the 80 year old man driving in front of me is going 5mph {how DARE he} during rush hour traffic? Let it go. If I’m laying in bed in the dark at 2am unable to sleep because whenever I close my eyes all I can see flashing is the question, “what the hell are you doing with your life?” Let it go. If my best friend has no desire to listen with her heart and drown out the gossipy voices? Let it go. I have to let it go because if I don’t, it will all eat me alive.
And you know what? Sometimes, a beautiful miracle happens and when you let go of the things that are wrong, the right things begin to find you. Or better yet, you might let something go and it comes back again but this time you know its right.
Right now, in this moment I can say that I finally feel like I’m beginning to get somewhere. I’m being less hard on myself and more honest with myself. I’m learning how to love again, myself & those around me I care about. I have plans and my eyes are set on the bright horizon. And if for some reason, this plan doesn’t pan out, I’ll know what to do. Let it go, and make a new one.
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I don’t know you, but I’m very happy I stumbled upon this blog a few months back and that I read this post today.
Just know a stranger needed to read these words, so thank you.
So glad you’re here too, Meredith! Thanks for reading.
This is beautiful and something I definitely needed to hear today. I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, but have never commented. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. You are an inspiration! :)
Honored to be an inspiration, thanks Erin.
This was a beautiful post, Liz, and a great reminder for all of us. <3 Glad to see you blogging again.
Love this post. I’m a maaaassive perfectionist myself so I can really relate. Especially with what I’ve been going through lately and all of the work and stress… I’ve had a really, really hard time trying let the little things be and accept you can’t win them all. Long story short: AMEN to this entire post. We can totally do this!
(Funny story, I actually wrote this looong ass blog entry last Thursday that touches on some of what you mentioned, but was too scared to publish it. Come on, courage… maybe I will.)
x K
You totally should publish it; I would read it!
I’m going through something in my life which is eerily similar. I wish you the best of luck with letting things go. It’s difficult, but it’s oh so good for the soul.
Much love to you Liz.
Thanks so much Kaylee, good luck and happy thoughts to you as well.
Gah, I love this. I need to do this like alldayeveryday.
You’ve got a lot on your plate right now, honey. I wish I could come over and help you relax with funny stories and wine! Sigh. Someday.
I kind of know how you feel. I’m not having trouble with wanting to be in control, for me it’s an issue to not care what other people think.
With everything I do, blogwise, clothingwise, behaviour, … I used to be insecure. ‘What would other people think of me?’ But I’m starting to letting that go now. I’m doing my own thing more and I feel better. Confident. I’m not there yet, I still have a long way to go But I know I can get over this! I want to do my own things and not care so much! That’s what I’m going for at the moment!
I’m really glad you could let go of the negatives in your life and I’m really happy for you it all turned out right! Thank you so much for this post too, it really got me thinking!
Love, Saar.
Thanks for sharing, Saar. I can totally relate to how difficult it is not caring what others think. You’re right, being confident helps heaps! Much love to you.
“If I’m laying in bed in the dark at 2am unable to sleep because whenever I close my eyes all I can see flashing is the question, ‘what the hell are you doing with your life?’ Let it go.”
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I relate to this exact piece right now. Ugh. And I get sad and then I try to stop myself from being sad which leads to a spiral of more sad so lately I’ve just let it be. Maybe not quite let it go, but let it be. If I’m feeling sad, then heck, I’m going to feel it, I’m not going to tell myself I’m wrong, I’m just going to let it run it’s course and then go on. My next step will be learning to let it go.
Thank you.
[...] of the best life advice I’ve heard this week: Let it go. It’s difficult but wouldn’t we all feel a whole lot better about [...]
This is the first time on your blog but this post got me all gushy and mushy.
I tell myself time and time again to let it go. But jeez it’s hard. Also a perfectionist and control freak, I want to do it all. I want it all, I want it all to go the way it looks in my head. i want it all and I don’t want to let any of it go.
The only thing that helps me is to know that the harder it is, the more rewarding it will be [as long as it is in the right direction] so that pain and desperation? it will go away, it will make you stronger. That’s what I tell myself.
you really hit a nerve in me with this [in a good way] since I’m working on this too. i suggest reading Finding your North Star by Martha Beck… it’s in the self help section of the book store. I kinda whispered that last part. anyhoo this comment is getting painfully long but thank you for writing it this post.
the end.
Emily
This, this is what I’m talking about. So raw. So real. So honest. I too have trouble letting go of small things that bother me, when in reality… they’re nothing but a speck on the long journey we all travel: life.
I can’t tell you how much I needed to hear exactly this. Let it go, the worries and stresses that tear us down, work, bills, relationships – it’s impossible to make progress and move forward when we focus too much on the little things. Thanks for sharing!
I’m *slowly* learning this lesson, myself. Thanks for the inspiration :)
[...] Liz: Let it go Lately, I have been teaching myself to do the impossible, and that is to let go of any and [...]
SUCH a great post….and a super timely reminder. Thank you so much for sharing!
This comes at just the right time.
Great post. It’s really, really hard to adjust to life changes, and especially to ones that are hard or impossible to control. Things change, and it’s hard. Giving up control seriously sucks, but you’re trying to keep a positive attitude, and that’s half the battle.
good read. let’s vidchat soon.
p.s.- way to take me out of your “enjoying” section… psssh.
[...] s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); EDITOR’S NOTE: Cross-posted from Liz’s personal blog – the Srsly [...]
[...] never been much of a worry-wart. A control freak, yes but a worry-wart? No way. Which is why its odd that it has become increasingly common for me [...]