I started thinking about the idea of letting go while reading Master Your Emotions by Thibaut Meurisse. One passage caught my attention: it explained how negative emotions dominate our mind because of our outdated survival instincts. Essentially, we’re wired to focus on threats rather than joy, even when those threats are as minor as a bad review.
For example, when my garage first opened, I was thrilled with our perfect 5-star rating. But it only took one 1-star review to crush my morale and drop us to 4.6. Objectively, 4.6 is still great. But my brain wouldn’t let me celebrate that. Instead, I became fixated on every review, fearing another bad one might come.
Why We Hold On to the Negative
Our instinct to dwell on negativity made sense back in the days when survival depended on avoiding danger. But in today’s world, this instinct often works against us, keeping us trapped in cycles of anxiety and self-doubt. A single setback, a failed project, a harsh comment, or even just a bad day, can overshadow dozens of positive moments. Letting go, then, becomes an act of conscious effort. It’s not about ignoring what went wrong but about choosing not to let it define everything else.
How Letting Go Can Lead to Growth
As I reflected on that 1-star review, I realized something: holding on to disappointment didn’t improve my business or my mood. It only drained my energy. The best way forward wasn’t to obsess over what went wrong but to focus on what was still right—happy clients, positive feedback, and a growing business.
Letting go doesn’t mean pretending something didn’t hurt. It means accepting it, learning from it, and moving forward. Whether it’s a failed relationship, a missed opportunity, or just a rough day, starting fresh allows us to make space for new possibilities. It’s about allowing ourselves to be human, imperfect, and constantly evolving.
A New Year, A New Beginning
As we step into this new year, I’m making a promise to myself: to practice the art of letting go. To stop clinging to what could’ve been better and start embracing what’s already good. Life will always have setbacks, but it’s in how we choose to move forward that real growth happens.
So, whether you’re dealing with something big or small, remember: it’s okay to start fresh. It’s okay to let go of what no longer serves you. Because in the end, letting go isn’t giving up—it’s making room for something better.
What are you ready to let go of this year?
