When You Let Go and Step Out of Your Own Way

Your true self is screaming to be unleashed but you’re afraid of what freedom means

There’s a concrete wall between the real you and the you the world sees. You want so desperately to let go, to be who you’re meant to be. You just don’t know how to.

You fear the repercussions. You fear the judgement. You fear you don’t even know who you truly are.

Part of you is screaming inside to be let out into the world.

Like a tiger in a small cage.

You might even tremble at the mere thought of letting go and being free. But letting go is hard.

This is my life. I feel caught in two worlds.

I want to scream at the top of my lungs!

I want to be free.

I’m here.

I’m a perfectionist and it sucks most of the time.

I can’t please everyone. I have to stop expecting this of myself.

I’m afraid of being judged.

I want the life I know I should be living. I just don’t know how to get it.

I don’t know how to let go or maybe I’m terrified of what it will mean.

I’m trapped.

My insides are shaking. I want to come out. I want to be unleashed.

Who am I?

This is what goes on in my head on a regular basis.

A poem to change everything

The other day, I read an article from Michele, The Sober Vegan Yogi.

In her article, Michele talks about a poem called She Let Go. When she heard the poem, she was in her first week of sobriety. Hearing the words sent her on a path of spiritual awakening.

You can read her beautiful story below.

I was in tears while reading it. It’s what triggered me to write this article.

Could I let go just from listening to a poem?

I listened, intensely. I was sobbing. Better put, I was a total mess.

The words resonated so deeply with me. I wanted to grab hold of them and float away, swaying softly on the freedom of having let go.

But I didn’t.

The need for control has cemented itself deep within my mind. I can’t let it go.

The poem now lives in my favourites. I want to breathe in the beautiful words again and again.

I realized in order to fully let go, you have to be ready — to breathe and release. Maybe I’m not ready. I’d love to be. But I’m not totally free. I stand in my own way all too often.

How to move out of the way and welcome letting go

There are some things I’ve been doing to help embrace the words let go, even if my time to be free is still to come.

Writing helps me release a lot of what used to hold me back. Now I’m sharing more and opening up — like in this article.

Meditation has done wonders for my anxiety, perfectionism and overall self-improvement. It continues to help calm my mind, which is a blessing. It’s also helping me practice accepting what I cannot change or control.

Self-compassion, this is where it’s at! I did a mindfulness self-compassion course a few years back. I learned how much I need to love myself. As you’ve just read, I’m still working on it. But I know there’s been significant personal growth.

Connecting with others who are going through or have experienced similar feelings has been a comfort on this marvellous journey.

Rather than hiding behind my wall, I’m trying to break a few holes in it, hoping one day it will come crumbling down.

Letting go isn’t easy, no matter how desperately you want to. I believe there will come a time in your life when you’ll be ready. You’ll stop trying to force it. When that day arrives, you will feel the release. Until then, remember, you’re not alone.❤️

Thank you for taking the time to read this very personal article.

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