Letting Go Doesn’t Happen All at Once — And That’s Okay
It’s not about dropping the weight overnight. It’s about releasing it in layers, one breath and one brave step at a time.
The Weekly Compass - The Layers of Letting Go
As I was thinking about what to write for this week’s Compass, I kept coming back to a truth I’ve come to learn over and over again:
Letting go doesn’t usually happen all at once.
It happens in layers.
In quiet moments.
In tiny shifts.
In the smallest steps… and sometimes, in sudden leaps.
When we’re children, we learn to let go of toys, routines, even friendships as they naturally change. But as adults, the things we need to let go of often carry more weight, and are much harder to leave behind - disappointment, identity, shame, old stories, grief.
And unlike a toy, we can’t just drop these things and walk away. We peel them back like layers of clothing we once needed for warmth, now too heavy for where we’re heading.
You don’t have to let go all at once.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just have to begin.
Have you ever felt like you are carrying something that’s been with you too long, a story, a resentment, a pressure to be perfect?
Here are some ways that I found that helped me to loosen my grip, just a little, bit by bit.
This article is for people who want a short inspirational read at the beginning of the week from someone who has tried all the tools and knows which ones work to change what needs changing in your life.
A Quote to Start the Week
“Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward. If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down.”
— Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
A Simple Practice
Start where you are.
Close your eyes. Take two deep breaths. Feel your body soften.
Now ask yourself:
“What am I still holding on to — even just a little?”
Just let the answer come without trying to fix or analyse it.
Then ask:
“Can I let go of just one layer of that this week?”
It doesn’t have to be everything. It might just be the habit of replaying the conversation… or checking their social media… or blaming yourself again.
Now - Write about what you’re willing to release — just the next layer of it.
That’s where your power is.
This is where you start.
Free Gift: Softening the Edges
If you’re working on letting go of all-or-nothing thinking, I’ve created a gentle journal to help. Softening the Edges is yours to download, completely free — a guided space to practice nuance, self-compassion, and progress over perfection.
A Meditation I’m Sharing
Letting go of Perfectionism Meditation
Delve into this powerful guided meditation designed specifically for those burdened by the relentless pursuit of perfection.
Make sure to use the journal prompts. This is how to get the most value from your meditation time.
Music I Recommend
Book to Read This Week
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
“Perhaps the biggest tragedy of our lives is that freedom is possible, yet we can pass our years trapped in the same old patterns.”
This book is all about coming home to yourself, not by force, but by softening, noticing, and releasing. A great read for anyone learning to let go in small, brave steps.
One Thing To Do
Look at something you’ve been struggling to release, and instead of trying to get rid of it entirely, ask yourself:
“What’s one layer I can let go of this week?”
Maybe it’s the guilt.
Maybe it’s the pressure.
Maybe it’s the fear that if you let go, there’ll be nothing left.
Let yourself take it one breath, one truth, one act of self-kindness at a time. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
This Week’s Compass Reminder:
Letting go isn’t a single act.
It’s a series of choices — some quiet, some bold.
You’re not behind. You’re just in a different layer.
And that’s exactly where you need to be.
P.S. What’s one layer — just one — you feel ready to let go of this week?
Do you want to make changes in your life? Sometimes all the support we need is to know we are not alone. Let me hold your hand on this journey until you can go it alone.
Georgia, your message is so encouraging. I've also found that you can't force letting go. But the gentle encouragement you suggests makes space for it to happen naturally. And as you say, one little layer at a time.