10 things to let go of during times of stress

1.       Let go of the idea that you must have all the answers. You’re going to be writing and re-writing your decisions, your goals, and your aspirations regularly. It’s OK to not know everything about where you are going. Maybe you just need to know what the first step to take next is.

2.       Let go of the nagging doubtful thought that everyone else is doing this better than you are. Trust me, people are thinking the same thing about you. The compare and despair of social media and edited conversation is real, and it will always leave you feeling like you have failed. Don’t do it – trust that everyone is having good and downright awful days – just like you.

3.       Let go of the idea that there is a right way of eating, sleeping, relationships etc and that if you keep researching Facebook groups and buying curricula and seeking new ways, you will eventually find it. Focus instead on what works well enough for you and your family and concentrate your energies there.

4.       Let go of feeling like you need to be perfect. Something has to give. If it’s the laundry, or dinner, or being on top of everything, accepting that you can’t do everything is an important part of feeling peaceful about your life.

5.       Let go of guilt. Don’t hold onto mistakes, which you will inevitably make. Learn from them, forgive yourself, and move on.

6.       Let go of the notion that life must be busy to feel successful. Slow down. Do nothing. Let your kids play outside all day, park the to do list for another day or have movie day all day. Don’t check your email at lunchtime. Resist the urge to multitask. Focus all your senses on drinking a cup of tea.

7.       Let go of your fear of failure. You will fail. Your kids will fail. With the right attitude, failure can be the most empowering experience in the world. It is how you learn, and it’s how you practice getting back up and trying again.

8.       Let go of your expectations. It’s easy to imagine what an ideal day might look like, but if you get too caught up in trying to replicate your vision, you may end up getting stuck in trying to achieve this and miss the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the day. There is nothing wrong with planning but be open to following the path where it leads you instead of trying to force it in a specific direction.

9.       Let go of worrying about the future. It’s OK that you don’t have it all figured out. You don’t always have to know what’s going to happen next. Focus on the step you need to take right now rather than the entire staircase.

10.   Let go of micromanaging. It’s easy to get distracted by things like how the dishwasher should be loaded or how much time your kids are on their devices but getting too focused on small details can get in the way of seeing the big picture. What is your goal for today? It might be peace instead of war, it might be getting through the day, whatever it is, let go of the minute details and learn to go with the flow.