ANEW: Five Things To Do To Let Go

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

A few years back, author Mel Robbins introduced her countdown method to help people who were stuck in their lives get moving again. Her advice was simple: count down from five and propel yourself into action. It was designed to break the cycle of hesitation.

To be frank, I wonder if this method truly works for people who chronically struggle with motivation or those who are clinically depressed. For someone who isn’t simply “bed-rotting,” I’m curious whether this technique is helpful or harmful.

This past year, I have been thinking about the idea of letting go—a lot. In fact, it has been my central focus. And I must say, I have learned a few things along the way that have helped me release what no longer serves me. These are not quick-fix tricks or countdowns. Instead, they are tangible, meaningful practices that have changed the way I move through the world.

Here are the five things I have consistently done over the last few months that have transformed me. Let’s do it in David Letterman backward countdown style, shall we?

#5: Travel Far and Often

I have written extensively about my travels over the last eight months. Even as I write this, I am back in St. Louis completing a project designed to benefit many people, especially children.

Mel Robbins’ advice is all about getting out of bed. But once you’re up, where do you go? That’s where travel comes in. It’s not just about movement—it’s about intentional movement. It’s about getting out of your comfort zone, meeting new people, and seeing the world through fresh eyes.

Some of my best experiences have come from traveling to places where I knew no one and had nothing expected of me. Travel teaches you to let go—of your routine, your assumptions, and even your identity for a while. And in that space, you find something new.

#4: Meet New People

I love this goal because it reminds me that life is full of connections waiting to be made. Some of them will turn into lifelong friendships, while others may last only a moment. But every interaction teaches us something.

Recently, I met someone through our shared love of baseball. I introduced him to my teammates, and he introduced me to a spot where I could get New Haven-style pizza nearby. A simple exchange, but one that added something new to my life.

Meeting people isn't about networking or accumulating contacts—it’s about expanding your world. It’s about hearing new stories and seeing life from different perspectives. And sometimes, those encounters are exactly what we need to shake us out of our old patterns.

#3: Learn Something New

Lately, I’ve been doing a deep dive into understanding autism. I don’t expect to become an expert, but I am fascinated by how this knowledge opens up new possibilities for the work I want to do.

I think back to my younger self, obsessed with the JFK assassination files, reading every document, planning a visit to Dealey Plaza in Dallas. That hunger for learning has always been part of me. And now, I channel it into something different—something that has the potential to change lives.

An acquaintance of mine built a school for girls in Rwanda, transforming hundreds of lives. Perhaps my work will have a similar impact. But to do anything meaningful, I must commit to learning every single day. And more importantly, I must challenge myself to act on that knowledge.

#2: Let Go of What No Longer Serves You

This one is the hardest. It requires deep honesty and courage.

We hold on to things—relationships, habits, even identities, places—because they are familiar. Sometimes, we stay because we feel obligated. Other times, we fear what life looks like without them. But clinging to the past doesn’t serve our future.

For me, this meant letting go of old professional attachments, stepping away from relationships that no longer aligned with my values, and releasing the need for a rigid plan. Instead, I have learned to trust that when I create space, something new and better will come.

And you know what? It always does.

#1: Give Yourself Permission to Begin Again

The most powerful thing I have done in this process is allowing myself to start fresh—without shame, without regret.

Life is not a straight path. It is cyclical. We are meant to evolve, shift, and change. Yet, we convince ourselves that once we choose a path—a career, a relationship, a city—we must stick with it, no matter how much we outgrow it.

But here’s the truth: You are allowed to start over.

You are allowed to wake up one day and decide that what once fit no longer does. You are allowed to rewrite the script. You are allowed to chase a new dream, to walk away from something that drains you, to step into a future that feels uncertain but full of possibility.

Letting go is not about failure. It’s about transformation.

It’s about trusting that the best is still ahead.

And that, my friends, is the real power of letting go.

May it always be so.

Curated Listening:

On my travels, I have been listening to a lot of Luther Vandross. I mean A LOT. I have been putting off seeing the documentary about Luther’s life. I will see it in time. Vandross began his career singing commercial jingles and backup vocals for the likes of David Bowie, Dionne Warwick, Roberta Flack, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, and Donna Summer. That makes him the consummate professional in many ways, sometimes taking the lead and at other times disappearing into the background. One of my favorite songs of his that has been on repeat for me has been, “Any Love.” Listen to the incomparable Luther Vandross sing “Any Love,” HERE.