The Art of Letting Go: Let Go of What No Longer Serves You

 

Photo by Paul Pastourmatzis on Unsplash

Letting go it's about wising up to stop dragging emotional junk everywhere you go. I mean, look around: everyone’s holding onto old stuff, ex-flings, and those cringe-worthy memories from 2012 you wish you could set on fire. The art of letting go teaches us to release the things that no longer serve our growth.

True freedom comes not from holding on to the past but from accepting the ever-changing life. By choosing to finally drop all that dead weight, you get to exchange heaviness for lightness and fear for possibility. And, just to be clear, letting go isn’t an act of defeat but rather a step towards a better version of yourself.

In this post, We’ll explore the art of letting go and how to let go of what no longer serves you.

Why You Should Let Go?

Ever noticed how we humans are professional hoarders—not just of stuff, but of memories, grudges, and awkward text screenshots we’ll 100% never need again? “Why You Should Let Go” isn’t about shaving your head and becoming a monk (though that seems virtuous). It’s really just about loosening your sweaty grip on all the mental junk that’s holding you back.

As Lao Tzu said: “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Basically, when you stop holding on so tightly to who you think you have to be, you give yourself room to grow.

Letting go doesn't mean you are soft or weak; it's an act of strength and clarity. When you kick out that old pain, quit that toxic relationship, or stop admitting that you are in control of everything. You can actually get some breath of fresh air, grow, or even laugh at how unpredictable life is. Buddhism calls this detachment—not cold indifference, but a realization that nothing stays the same forever. 

When you let go, you stop worrying about those “what ifs” and "should haves." You start creating room for amazing endeavors, new people, and more joy.

The Reasons We Struggle to Let Go

Humans have been interesting creatures since day one of evolution. We yap nonstop about our baggage while simultaneously clutching it like it’s made of gold. Why? Our brains love familiarity, even when the familiar is as comfortable as a cactus mattress. That’s how most people end up stuck in the job they hate, or hanging onto a relationship that’s been dead since PlayStation Portable exists, or habits that make Netflix our best friend.

Psychologists call it the "comfort zone." But I think it's more like a discomfort zone with free wifi and a phone charger.  It’s not that we enjoy being miserable; it’s that our brains prefer predictable misery over uncertain freedom. To the human mind, change equals risk, and risk equals potential pain.

Our minds make us believe that letting go is like leaping into the unknown. And uncertainty, to your brain, looks like a creepy old house in a horror movie. So we end up holding on to old dramas, grudges, and expired dreams, thinking they’ll just keep us safe to avoid dealing with our own shit that should have ended years ago.

Freedom Vs Attachment

Freedom and attachment are like that chaotic duo you can’t separate, like peanut butter and jelly, but one’s sticky nostalgia and the other’s “let it go” vibes. Attachment happens when we link our happiness to people, stuff, or outcomes, as if any of it is going to last. However, life is anything but permanent. Jobs change, your BFF drifts apart, and your go-to coffee shop swaps your favourite curry puff for, what, chia seeds? Brutal.

Clinging to all that good old comfort is like signing up for an endless rerun of your past, my friend. Instead of moving on with your life, you’re stuck replaying scenes. Hence, start practicing healthy detachment and give yourself permission to run your life without letting it run you.

Recognize When It’s Time to Let Go

Knowing when to call it quits is never easy, especially when our identity is tied to the memories and people in the past. We make up excuses like "Oh, but he/she texted me back yesterday” or "Maybe this time things will be different." But deep down, you already know the truth. When someone constantly drains your energy, makes you feel like you're walking on eggshells, or undermines your self worth, it's not love and connection. It's emotional exhaustion disguised as hope.

The hardest part is admitting that what once felt right may no longer serve the person you’ve become. Growth sometimes requires facing truths we'd deny. True and meaningful connections are meant to lift you higher, not drag you down. When you notice you’re always the one trying to fix, prove, or hold things together, it's a clear sign to step back and reevaluate.

Start by being brutally honest with yourself. Ask: Is this relationship, situation, or attachment helping me grow? Does it align with the person I’m becoming? If your heart feels heavy just thinking about it, that’s already an answer. Letting go doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’ve learned. As the Buddha said, “If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.”

Admitting that something has come to an end doesn’t make you cold-hearted or cruel Michael Myers. It means you’re choosing to prioritize your own well-being. After that, you can start crafting your life with new opportunities, identities, and relationships.

The Steps to Letting Go

1. Identify What’s Draining You

First of all, grab a pencil and a piece of paper and start writing down the people, habits, or situations that drain your energy battery. Don’t overthink it. Just dump it all out, like emptying your messy closet. Once it’s in plain sight, you can actually see what deserves a spot in your life and what needs to end up in the dustbin.

Next, take a second and ask yourself: why are you allowing them to linger, and what have they been costing you? Not just in bad moods, but maybe sleepless nights or just feeling blah. Awareness is the first step in the art of letting go. The moment you see the full picture, you can take the power back into your own hands and actually live.

2. Accept That Everything is Going to Change

Life goes on like clockwork, even when we try to press the pause button. Endings are not some screw-ups or failures; they are a welcome letter to something new. As the Buddha taught, “Everything changes, nothing remains without change.” Translation: stop fighting the river and just learn to float for a second.

When you start viewing change as a chance to level up, everything falls into place. Think about all the versions of yourself you’ve already outgrown—from old routines to awkward teenage phases — and how each shift led you to a wiser, stronger you.

3. Create a Simple Farewell Ritual

Do something that actually means a little something to you. Write that letter you’ll never send, go for a walk that feels like more than just steps, or get rid of stuff that’s still haunting you from last year. No need to stage a dramatic rom-com goodbye unless you’re "dramatic". Just you and your thoughts, in a quiet environment, can help you let go.Your brain loves a good ritual; it’s like, “Oh, right, that’s done. Next!”

Honestly, rituals are magic because they make all those messy, slippery feelings a little less… well, slippery. And you don’t need a fancy ceremony for this. Light a candle if you’re into that vibe or say to yourself in the mirror "I survived".

Personally, scribbling into a notebook about what happened, how I felt and what I've learned has been my go-to strategy for letting go.

4. Fill In With Something New

Letting go isn’t just about letting go, literally. It is about what you invite next. Maybe you finally start painting those rusty front doors you’ve always joked about, text that one friend who makes you laugh so hard you snort, or just simply step into a completely new community that feels exciting.

Try new activities and genuinely spark your interest: hire a boxing coach or take a solo trip to the United States. The choice is yours. Letting go becomes a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy: the more you let go, the less tempted you are to slip back into old, draining habits.

Letting Go of Relationships 

The first step is to pay attention to your gut feeling after you hang out with someone. Do you leave the conversation feeling calm and inspired, or heavy and second-guessing yourself? 

When a relationship consistently brings stress, guilt, or self-doubt, it may have run its natural course. Setting boundaries, like stepping back from constant messaging or blocking all of their contacts, can give you the space you need to heal.

Grieving the loss of a relationship is a natural part of letting go. Even when you know it’s the right decision, your heart still needs time to process the change. It’s not just about missing the person; you’re also saying goodbye to shared routines, inside jokes, and the version of you that existed in that relationship.

Allow yourself to do nothing and sit through the emotional rollercoasters. Write down the meaningful memories, talk it through with someone you trust, or simply let yourself cry without judgment. 

Slowly but surely, that emotional pain turns into gratitude and appreciation. You start to see what you've learned and what you loved without letting it define your future. Healing doesn’t mean you’ll forget; it means you’ll carry the memory with positive energy.

Every time something ends, you are clearing the path for something new, even if you can't see it just yet.

My Personal Experience

Lastly, I want to share my personal thoughts on letting go. I once stepped into a relationship that, deep down, wasn’t right from the start. You know, like a typical young guy convincing himself that this is the one, that she’s all I’ll ever need, and then falling headfirst into love. Then things fell apart faster than a sandcastle getting hit by a wave.

I went through countless sleepless nights, constant anxiety, and nightmares about the loss. At first, I refused to accept what had happened. I tried to get her back and did all the foolish things you could imagine. I felt guilty, drained, and not good enough. But eventually, I began to accept reality. I let myself sit with the pain instead of denying it, crying for no reason and wrestling with negativity and confusion.

After a few months, something shifted. I started feeling grateful, realizing that this painful experience was actually one of the best things that ever happened to me. It forced me to think differently, to ask myself what I truly want in life, and to stop living based on what others think of me. That change in mindset led me to new goals, better habits, and, most importantly, a deeper sense of wisdom and peace.

In A Nutshell

Learning the art of letting go isn’t about losing. It’s about creating space for the life you deserve. When you release what no longer serves you, whether it’s clutter, toxic habits, or draining relationships, you make room for a new life you couldn’t see before. 

Growth happens when you dare to step out of old stories and into new possibilities. Start small, be kind to yourself, and remember: letting go isn’t game over. It’s the beginning of a more fulfilling one.

10 Popular Facts People Still Believe Today

Think you’ve got the world all figured out? Well, think again, because half the “facts” you’ve been learning since primary school are about as legit as cows flying in the air. Camels carrying water in their humps? Total garbage. Breakfast being the secret cheat code of your day? Not so much. Basically, we’ve all been fooled by stuff that sounds smart but falls apart faster than a one ringgit pasar malam (night market in Malaysia) T-shirt.

It's bonkers how these so-called facts always keep popping up in our day-to day lives. Your grandma drops them over dinner, teacher toss them around like it's their slogan and even by that one friend who swears they know everything because they “read it online.” And after hearing them so often, it’s easy to accept them as fact without a second thought.

In this post, i am going to debunk 10 popular “facts” people still believe today. Some will make you LOL, others will make you groan, and, you might even have the urge to DM your secondary school science teacher say, “You have been wrong”.

1. Camels Store Water in Their Humps

For some reason, camels got stuck with the reputation of being walking water tanks. People imagine their humps sloshing around like giant water balloons. Newsflash: camel humps don’t hold water, they actually store fat. That lumpy back bump is basically a built-in energy reserve, not a desert hydration system. The fat allows camels to survive long periods without food, while their real water-saving ability comes from how efficiently their bodies squeeze every drop of water they drink.

So where did this rumor come from? Probably because camels can survive long stretches without a sip of water and then down alcohol like  typical 20s in a night club—finishing a whole bottle in one go, no problem. Watch that happen once and yeah, suddenly the “hump = water tank” thing sounds right. In reality, the secret lies in their blood cells, body temperature control, and fat reserves, which allow them to handle the brutal desert heat.

2. Mice Like Cheese

Tom & Jerry totally lied to us about mice and cheese. Thanks to those cartoons, we all grew up picturing every mouse in history are drooling over a piece of cheddar, like it’s some sort of rodent holy grail. On the contrary, most cheeses have strong odors that mice actively avoid. Cheese usually reeks to them. What do they actually want? Sugar and carbs. We’re talking grains, fruit, a smear of peanut butter—basically, the same stuff that disappears from your kitchen at 3 a.m.

So why do we still believe this "cheesy" nonsense? Back in the old days, cheese was one of the few foods stored out in the open, making it an easy reach for hungry rodents. That image held on, and later cartoons made it iconic. Fast-forward to today, and your nosy neighbour is still baiting traps with cheddar like it’s some kind of 5-star buffet for mice.

Here’s the real tip: ditch the cheese, opt for peanut butter instead, and watch your mouse trap actually 'trap' Sorry, Jerry, looks like you have been acting all these years for the wrong treat.

3. Peeing on a Jellyfish Sting Actually Helps

Alright, let’s set the record straight: if you’ve ever watched too many survival shows or taken "useful" tips from your weird uncle at the reunion dinner, you’ve probably heard that classic phrase—“Just pee on the jellyfish sting and you will be alright.” Yeah, sure, because nothing screams “medical emergency” like public urination. 

Urine doesn’t neutralize the venom, and in some cases, it can actually exacerbate the sting by triggering more of those nasty stingers to fire. So if you were planning on asking your beach buddy for a 'pee shower', you might want to reconsider.

Here’s what you actually wanna do: get some vinegar or salt water and rinse that sting. Then, use something (not your bare hands) to carefully remove the tentacles.

Vinegar helps neutralize the venom, while fresh water or urine? That's just asking for more trouble. So next time you’re at the beach and someone suggests the pee solution, feel free to laugh it off.

4. Skipping Breakfast is Bad

I've been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as if skipping it automatically puts you to poor health, bad mood or flopping at your first date. Despite skipping breakfast for quite a long time, I have yet to see any negative effects on my body and mind.

Skipping breakfast isn’t harmful at all. In fact, many people practice intermittent fasting or simply don’t feel hungry in the morning, and they do just fine. The “breakfast is essential” phrase actually gained popularity thanks to some clever 20th-century marketing by cereal companies — not because of proven science.

At the end of the day, what actually matters is the overall quality of your diet, not whether you stuff down 5 boiled eggs at sunrise. If you’re hungry in the morning, eat. If not, it’s totally fine to wait until later in the day. Your brain isn’t gonna short-circuit and your metabolism won’t just tap out because you skipped some hash browns. Relax.

5. Fruit Juice is Healthy

Oh shoot, fruit juice really pulled off the ultimate con job, huh? Everyone’s out there chugging orange juice thinking they’re basically drinking liquid health. But it’s kinda just sugar water with a fancy label. Seriously, once you squeeze the juice outta fruit, you’re tossing all that good fiber in the trash and keeping the sweet and "dopamine" stuff. Your blood sugar? Shooting up faster than grocery and crypto prices.

Look, I get it. Saying you had “a glass of freshly prepared orange juice” for breakfast sounds way more virtuous than admitting you grabbed a Coke. Newsflash: nutritionally, there’s not a big difference. Yeah, that kinda sucks ass.

Not saying you should blacklist fruit juices altogether; it just means to have them with the right intention. If you really want to drink your fruits, smoothies (with the fiber blended in) are a much smarter choice.

6. Goldfish Have a 3-Second Memory

It's almost tragic that goldfish have been the go-to target of bad memory jokes for years. Somewhere along the way, people started roasting these little swimmers could only remember things for three seconds. On the contrary, goldfish are way sharper than we think. 

Research shows they can remember things for weeks, even months. I mean, they can spot colors, shapes, and yeah, they totally know you’re the weirdo busting out dance moves when you think nobody’s watching. Sorry, your goldfish saw everything.

So where did the “goldfish are clueless” BS come from? Maybe it’s because they don’t wag their tails or purr or whatever. They just kinda vibe in their tank. But don’t let that blank stare fool you—these fish can learn tricks, solve mazes, and they’ll straight-up swim to the top when it’s chow time. 

7. Being Cold Will Make You Sick

How many times have I heard mother yell to their kids, “Put on a jacket, or you’ll catch a cold”? It’s like a universal law of parenting or something. Makes sense on the surface, right? Except cold weather isn’t actually out here handing out viruses like candies. You could be out in the freezing rain, shivering, and still be totally fine—unless some sneaky virus decides to tag along.

What really happens in colder months or rainy season is that everyone’s packed inside, windows sealed tight, breathing the same air. That’s a germ’s dream come true, not the chilly wind. But hey, the myth sticks around because, let’s be real, everyone and their grandma seems to get sick when it’s cold. Feels like cause and effect, but nope.

If you’re sniffling after being out in the cold, that’s just your nose throwing a bit of a tantrum—you know, like a child crying when her mommy refuses to buy her ice cream. So yeah, pile on the scarves if you want to feel comfortable, but don’t expect them to be some unbreakable shield. 

8. Fat in Your Diet Becomes Your Body Fat

Fat’s been treated like main villain for ages, kinda like how everyone panicked when Thanos destroyed The Avengers. Remember those “low-fat” stickers slapped on everything? People started eyeing butter like it was radioactive waste. But honestly? Fat alone isn’t the main culprit here. The whole “eat fat, get fat” thing is way oversimplified. What actually affects the numbers on the weighing scale is the type food you eat and how long you go without eating. 

And here’s the kicker: your body actually needs fat—the good stuff, anyway. We’re talking avocados, nuts, that fancy sunflower oil you bought to impress your friend. Fats maintain a homeostatic homorne balance, power up your brain, and give you plenty of energy so you don’t crash in the middle of a client meeting.

So why’d fat get the bad rap? Well, it’s super calorie-dense—more than twice as much per gram as carbs or protein. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop eating all fats. In fact, eating the right ones can make you feel satisfied and not raid the fridge every hour. Stop thinking about banning fat and think balance instead. Your body literally needs fat to work right.

9. Sharks Can Smell a Drop of Blood From Miles Away

Now let's talk about sharks. Gosh, people act like they’re swimming horror movie villains just waiting for a whiff of blood. That whole idea about a single drop turning the ocean into a shark fest? Yeah, that’s pure Hollywood nonsense. Sure, sharks have a killer sense of smell (pun not intended, but I’m not sorry), but it’s not like they’re sniffing you out across the ocean. So unless you’re bleeding in the shark’s territory, you’re not instantly on their dinner radar.

Blame it on movies like The Meg or whatever new shark flick is out. Those things have people convinced sharks are just creeping out there, waiting for someone to get a paper cut. But most of the time, they’re way more interested in fish than checking out what’s on the human menu. They're hunters, not blood-sniffing detectives with magical noses. 

Relax, go for a swim—just maybe skip the open wound part.  

10. Waking Up a Sleepwalker is Dangerous

Movies, man—they love to dial up the drama. You’d think waking up a sleepwalker would make them explode or something, the way Hollywood tells it. Truth? It’s not half that wild. Sure, shake them awake and they’ll probably stare at you like you’re a three-headed giraffe, maybe get a little confused or freaked out, but they’re not gonna keel over from shock. Nobody’s dying here.

Honestly, the sketchiest part is what they’re doing while they’re still half-zonked. I mean, nobody wants to find Uncle Tan halfway out the window or making a sandwich with a chef’s knife at 3 a.m. That’s where things can get dicey—stairs, sharp stuff, or, God forbid, sleep-driving (which, yes, actually happens).

If you catch a sleepwalker mid-stumble, don’t shout at them like an angry sergeant. Just gently lead them back to bed, like you’re guiding your hammered friend away from karaoke disaster. Quiet, chill, and back under the covers—no need for a dramatic scene. 

Wrapping Up

Alright, we just went through 10 of the wildest myths people keep falling for—chances are, you’ve probably repeated a couple without even realizing it. Hey, I have been there too. Everybody gets caught up in these nonsense sometimes. 

But now you know the truth and ready to dispel the misconception. So if you enjoyed this myth-busting session, spread the word—tell your friends, or your grandma, or even that guy at work who insists on sharing “fun facts.” You might just stop someone from whipping out the ol’ jellyfish sting pee cure.