Lessons In Letting Go | Volume 1, Edition 4

In this edition of Lead Anew: Insights and Growth, I explore a profound yet liberating lesson of leadership: letting go. Whether it’s a title, a routine, or a preconceived notion of our identity, sometimes the most courageous act we can take is to release what no longer serves us and pave the way for what lies ahead.

Letting go may sound graceful in theory, but in practice, it’s more like peeling back layers of identity that you’ve worn for years. I didn’t just step away from a job; I stepped away from the version of myself that believed I had to prove myself constantly. It wasn’t until I felt the weight of the title leave my hands that I realized how tightly I was clinging to it.

For a long time, I equated my role with my worth, the leadership title, the full calendar, and the respect that came from being “the one who handles everything.” But eventually, that role became more like a costume than a calling. It no longer aligned with my values or felt like me. Despite this, I clung to it because it was familiar, and familiarity can feel safe, even when it’s suffocating.

The hardest part was trusting that something better would come after walking away. I had to believe that I wasn’t abandoning ambition; I was redefining it. While clarity didn’t come right away, space did; the space to breathe, the space to dream, and the space to hear my own voice again.

Letting go involved releasing habits that kept me in a state of survival, such as self-protection, guarding, overcommitting, overexplaining, and overachieving. I realized that boundaries aren’t walls but invitations to live more honestly. Additionally, I accepted that leadership isn’t about holding on the longest; sometimes, it’s about knowing when to let go.

Since then, I’ve discovered that real clarity often follows surrender. When we let go, we’re not giving up; we’re making room for growth, alignment, and peace. For me, letting go of that old title made space for something deeper: purpose-driven leadership that feels rooted, not rushed.

So, if you’re holding on to something because it’s safe, I understand. But I also want to remind you: you are not the title, you are not the routine, you are not the outdated version of yourself. You are the person with the courage to choose differently, and that’s the kind of leader the world needs.

You don’t have to cling to be strong. Sometimes the real strength is in the release. Make room, trust the process, and keep leading anew.