Chapter 6 — The Gift of Letting Go

In this chapter, I explore the difficult but necessary art of release. We often hold on tight—to people, to identities, to past versions of ourselves—believing that holding on keeps us safe. But true freedom is found not in what we carry, but in what we are brave enough to put down.

REFLECTIONS ON LIFE

Alba Ridao-Bouloumié

11/26/20252 min read

We live in a culture that celebrates beginnings. We applaud the new job, the new relationship, the fresh start. Yet, we rarely honour the endings that make those beginnings possible. We view endings as failures or losses, rather than as essential completions of a cycle.

Letting go is not an act of weakness; it is an act of profound trust. It is the acknowledgement that a chapter has concluded and that we no longer need to re-read it to understand who we are.

When we cling to what is over, we occupy the space meant for what is coming. We stand in the doorway, blocking our own light. To let go is to step aside and allow life to evolve.

Chapter 6:

"Making peace with what ends"

Reflections on Life - A Journey Within

Empty hands, open heart

There is a fear that if we let go, we will be left with nothing. We grip the familiar because the unknown feels dangerous. But consider the trees in autumn: they do not cling to their leaves in fear of the winter. They release them, trusting that the cycle of renewal will bring fresh growth in the spring.

Making peace with what ends requires us to grieve, to honor what was, and then to gently loosen our grip.

“You can only lose what you cling to." — Buddha

The nature of endings

In this chapter, we explore the difficult but necessary art of release. We often hold on tight—to people, to identities, to past versions of ourselves—believing that holding on keeps us safe. But true freedom is found not in what we carry, but in what we are brave enough to put down.

Continue your journey → Chapter 7: The Power of Awareness

Identifying the Weight: What is one thing—a grudge, a regret, or an expectation—that feels heavy in your heart right now
Honouring the End: Instead of pushing it away, can you thank this experience for what it taught you, and then mentally say, "It is done"?
Visualising Space: Imagine your hands are full of old luggage. Now imagine setting it down. How does your body feel in that moment of release?