RELEASE — Let Go to Make Room
“Sometimes the most powerful strategy is subtraction.”
Most leaders begin their year asking:
What should I do more of?
But the real question is:
What do I need to release so I can grow?
The truth is, your success in 2026 won’t just come from what you add — it will come from what you stop carrying. From the habits, roles, beliefs, and even relationships that no longer align with the leader you are becoming.
Why Releasing Comes Before Rebuilding
In nature, letting go is part of the cycle of growth.
Trees shed their leaves. Oceans release the tide. You exhale before you inhale again.
Your business, body, and leadership require the same rhythm.
If your systems are overloaded, your strategy will stall.
If your heart is cluttered, your Energy will fail.
That’s why release is not weakness — it’s wisdom. It creates space for what’s next.
What Needs to Go Before 2026?
Here are the five categories I ask clients to audit this time of year:
1. Habits that No Longer Serve You
Where are you choosing urgency over effectiveness?
What routines no longer match your current goals?
What coping behaviors are actually causing burnout?
💡 Example: Late-night work sprints, always saying yes, skipping CEO time
2. Obligations You’ve Outgrown
What are you still doing out of guilt, tradition, or “shoulds”?
What roles or responsibilities should have been transitioned long ago?
💡 Example: Attending every meeting, over-volunteering, doing team tasks you should be delegating
3. Beliefs That Block Your Growth
What do you believe about success, leadership, or money that keeps you playing small?
What identity are you clinging to that no longer fits?
💡 Examples: “I have to be available 24/7.” “If I slow down, I’ll lose momentum.” “I’m just not good with money.”
4. Relationships That Drain Instead of Build
Who are you constantly managing, fixing, or shrinking around?
What conversations have you avoided that are long overdue?
💡 Hint: This includes clients, partners, vendors, and even friendships.
5. Systems That Are Sinking You
Where are you still overcomplicating?
What tools, workflows, or platforms are causing more confusion than clarity?
💡 You don’t need more tech — you need better simplicity.
What You Release Becomes Your Power
Imagine waking up January 1st:
Free from obligations that drained you
Clear on what’s no longer yours to carry
Unavailable for misalignment
Unburdened
That’s the power of intentional release.
Not letting go just to feel lighter — but to move forward stronger.
Thought Leadership Anchor
From “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks
“Each of us has an inner thermostat setting that determines how much success we allow ourselves.”
To raise your thermostat — to hold more success — you have to let go of the patterns and limits that kept you stuck in your old range.
Try This: A “Stop Doing” List
This week, instead of a to-do list, create a “Stop Doing” list.
Write down:
3 habits to release
2 tasks to delegate or delete
1 belief you’re done carrying
Then… actually take action.
Closing Thought
Letting go is hard. Especially for high-achievers.
But holding on to what’s misaligned only guarantees one thing:
You’ll drag it with you into the next year.