The other day, I gave Percy one of his favorite collagen sticks, but he regurgitated it halfway through and all over the carpet. Being a dog, he rushed to eat the remnants from the carpet, and I could sense his embarrassment, likely a reflection of the life he had before me.
In a silly attempt to comfort him, I said,
“That’s okay, baby; it’s not a loss, but a release.”
..And this hit me deeply.
We often feel fear, anxiety, and shame about losses—whether tangible or emotional. We let external judgments shape our decisions based on societal or familial standards.
Every choice we make aims to improve our lives, but the hardest ones often revolve around fear of judgment or losing something valuable.
We might fear leaving the familiarity of a long-relationship that makes us feel unable to express ourselves, or accepting a job that could become worse than the bad one we already have, or losing friends after making a radical life change.
Next time you're faced with a tough decision, remember: you might not be losing anything; you could be freeing yourself from pain. And as we approach the end of the year, this is a perfect time to reflect on what we can release. Letting go of outdated beliefs, fears, and burdens (in any measure we can) allows us to embrace new opportunities and growth. Sometimes, just donating all the stuff we no longer need in our house is enough.
Just like Percy (and I) learned, releasing can lead to greater freedom and clarity as we step into the new year.
