Step Into 2025 with Confidence: The Art of Letting Go

Show Notes:
Summary:
Letting go is essential for personal growth and creating space for new opportunities. Valerie Hatcher dives into the challenges of releasing what no longer serves us, whether it's self-doubt, old habits, or relationships that keep us stuck. Through relatable anecdotes and practical steps, she encourages listeners to confront the emotional weight of their attachments and to embrace the freedom that comes with decluttering their lives. Valerie shares her own experiences, illustrating how letting go can lead to rediscovering passions and finding joy. As we embark on a new year, she emphasizes that it's never too late to make positive changes and invites everyone to reflect on what they can release to invite more joy and clarity into their lives.
Timestamps:
00:09 - Embracing Life's Journey
01:38 - The Journey of Letting Go
04:24 - Letting Go to Make Space
07:21 - Letting Go and Moving Forward
Key Takeaways:
- Letting go of old beliefs and habits opens up space for new opportunities and growth.
- Identifying what holds you back is the first step towards creating a more fulfilling life.
- Embracing the process of letting go can lead to emotional freedom and clarity in your life.
- The act of decluttering isn't just physical; it's about releasing emotional baggage too.
- When we let go of expectations, we can show up as our true selves.
- Letting go is a gift to yourself, allowing for joy, peace, and new possibilities.
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Living our best life.
Speaker A
It's good to be alive, but it's best to truly live.
Speaker A
Let your spirit bright celebrate the journey every single day.
Speaker A
Aging with Grace and style in our own special way.
Speaker A
Foreign.
Valerie
It's Valerie.
Valerie
And welcome back to the first episode of 2025.
Valerie
I have a question for you.
Valerie
What are you holding on to that's keeping you stuck?
Valerie
Maybe it's self doubt.
Valerie
Maybe it's the idea that you'll fit into those jeans from 20 years ago.
Valerie
Been there.
Valerie
Whatever it is, today we're going to talk about letting go.
Valerie
Not just to let go, but to create space for what's next.
Valerie
Hey, friend, who says aging has to mean slowing down?
Speaker C
Around here, we're all about embracing this chapter with grace, style, and just the right touch of sass.
Speaker C
Welcome to the Aging with Grace and Style podcast.
Speaker C
I'm Valerie Hatcher, your guide to empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot of laughs for women over 50.
Speaker C
So grab your favorite drink, turn up the volume, and let's dive in.
Valerie
I'm so glad that you're here and I can't wait to kick off this year with you.
Valerie
Letting go isn't easy.
Valerie
It's messy, it's emotional, and sometimes, let's be real, it's downright funny.
Valerie
I once held on to a kitchen gadget that I thought I'd use someday.
Valerie
Spoiler alert.
Valerie
I don't need a pasta maker to be happy.
Valerie
I am happy just using pasta from the box.
Valerie
But seriously, letting go is the first step to growth.
Valerie
So today we're going to dive into what matters, how to do it, and what happens when we finally move forward.
Valerie
First, let's talk about why letting go is so hard.
Valerie
We hold on to things, to ideas, habits, even relationships, just because they feel safe.
Valerie
But here's the thing.
Valerie
Holding on to the wrong things keeps us from grabbing the right ones.
Valerie
It's like trying to carry all the groceries in one trip.
Valerie
Eventually, something's going to drop.
Valerie
When you let go, you make space for new opportunities.
Valerie
Whether it's rediscovering your passions, finding new friendships, or just having the mental bandwidth to dream again.
Valerie
Let me tell you a story about my closet.
Valerie
So this past week, I decided it was time to tackle it.
Valerie
You know, one of those New Year, New Me moments.
Valerie
And let me tell you, it was a multi day process.
Valerie
I stood there and stared at clothes that I hadn't worn in years.
Valerie
Some of them don't even fit.
Valerie
Some of them weren't even in style anymore.
Valerie
But could I let them go?
Valerie
Nope, not at first, I even found a jacket that I'm telling you, I bought 10 years ago that still had the tags on it.
Valerie
Why was I holding on to it?
Valerie
Maybe I thought that I'd suddenly morph into the kind of person who wears blazers to the grocery store.
Valerie
The funny thing is, I know that I needed to get rid of this stuff, but something in me, it clung to it.
Valerie
Memories.
Valerie
Guilt over money spent.
Valerie
Or maybe just the idea that I might need it someday.
Valerie
Sound familiar?
Valerie
We do this with more than just clothes, don't we?
Valerie
When you let go, you make space for new opportunities.
Valerie
Whether it's rediscovering your passions, finding new friendships, are just having the mental bandwidth to.
Valerie
To dream again.
Valerie
When you let go, you make space for new opportunities.
Valerie
So how did I finally get rid of those clothes?
Valerie
I followed these same steps that I'm about to share with you.
Valerie
First, I identify what was holding me back.
Valerie
Those thoughts like, but what if I lose weight?
Valerie
Y'all, I don't need to lose any more weight.
Valerie
Or, but I spent good money on this.
Valerie
Does that sound familiar?
Valerie
Then I got real about this impact.
Valerie
Every time I looked at that cluttered closet, I literally felt overwhelmed.
Valerie
And finally, I took action.
Valerie
I started pulling stuff out one piece at a time, asking myself, does this bring me joy?
Valerie
Or is it just taking up space?
Valerie
And here's the thing.
Valerie
We can do the same with our beliefs, our habits, or even our relationships.
Valerie
If something isn't serving you, it's time to take it off the hanger and let it go.
Valerie
So here are the three steps that you can take.
Valerie
Identify what's holding you back.
Valerie
Ask yourself, why am I holding on to this?
Valerie
Maybe it's guilt, fear, or just plain habit.
Valerie
Write it down.
Valerie
Because writing it on paper for me, makes it real.
Valerie
And then number two, get real about this impact.
Valerie
Ask yourself, is this helping me grow?
Valerie
Or is it keeping me stuck?
Valerie
Every time I looked at that cluttered closet again, I felt overwhelmed.
Valerie
It wasn't serving me anymore.
Valerie
And three, start small.
Valerie
Take one, small action, which is one piece at a time.
Valerie
I asked myself, this is bring me joy, or is it just taking up space?
Valerie
And let's be clear.
Valerie
If you're holding on to your kids 3rd grade art projects like somebody else I know I'm not calling my own name.
Valerie
It's okay to snap a picture and just let those macaroni masterpieces go.
Valerie
So now that my closet is clean, I feel so much more liberated.
Valerie
I can actually see what I own.
Valerie
And getting dressed feels like a fresh start every day.
Valerie
It's the same in life.
Valerie
When you let go of the stuff that's weighing you down, you make space for clarity, for freedom, and for joy.
Valerie
Plus, now I have room for new clothes, which is always a bonus, but only things that I love.
Valerie
This time I'm not going back to the blazer for the grocery store mode.
Valerie
So what's in your life closet that you've been holding onto?
Valerie
Is it an old belief, a habit, or even a relationship that no longer fits?
Valerie
Take a moment to think about what you're ready to clear out this year.
Valerie
Okay, so we've talked about how to let go and why it's so important.
Valerie
But what happens when you finally release the things that are holding you back?
Valerie
Let me tell you, the other side of letting go can feel like a.
Valerie
A deep exhale, a kind of freedom that.
Valerie
That you didn't even know you needed.
Valerie
So when you let go of the old, you make room for the new.
Valerie
That's new dreams, new opportunities, and even new perspectives.
Valerie
Think about it.
Valerie
If you spent years believing that you're too old to try something, imagine what's possible when you stop carrying that weight around.
Valerie
I had a friend who finally let go of the idea that she had to stay in the corporate job until retirement.
Valerie
She started a small business at 55, and now she's thriving, happier, and even feels 10 years younger.
Valerie
Letting go also gives you emotional freedom.
Valerie
When you stop replaying the past in your head and you start focusing on what's next, it's like cleaning a foggy windshield.
Valerie
You can finally see where you're going.
Valerie
So for me, letting go of being everything to everyone was a huge step.
Valerie
Now I'm going to admit it's still a work in progress.
Valerie
And I'm having to learn that saying no isn't selfish, it's self care.
Valerie
And once I started that, I started to feel lighter, like I could finally breathe again.
Valerie
When you let go, you also get closer to the real you.
Valerie
So how many of us have been holding on to someone else's expectations?
Valerie
Whether it's family, society, or even your younger selves, when you let go, you show up as you.
Valerie
And that's when life really gets good.
Valerie
And let's be honest, you don't have to be perfect.
Valerie
I've let go of needing to wear makeup to every event.
Valerie
It turns out that sometimes a bare face and a great pair of earrings and some mascara.
Valerie
We can't leave out the mascara.
Valerie
It works wonders.
Valerie
I recently heard from a listener we'll call her Diane, who told me that she had been holding on to the idea that her best years were behind her.
Valerie
She said that she stopped trying new things because she thought, what's the point?
Valerie
But after hearing about the power of letting go, she decided to take up painting again.
Valerie
Something that she hadn't done in decades.
Valerie
She sent me a picture of her first painting.
Valerie
And let me tell you, it is beautiful.
Valerie
Not because it's perfect, but because it was her saying, I'm not done yet.
Valerie
So what about you?
Valerie
What's one thing that you can let go of this year?
Valerie
It doesn't have to be big.
Valerie
It just has to be yours.
Valerie
Write it down, share it with me, or even just whisper it to yourself.
Valerie
And if you have a story like Diane's, then I'd love to hear hear from you.
Valerie
Send me a message.
Valerie
I might even share it on a future episode.
Valerie
So here's the truth about letting go.
Valerie
It's a gift that you give to yourself.
Valerie
It isn't about losing.
Valerie
It's about gaining.
Valerie
Gaining space, clarity, and the freedom to step into what's next for you.
Valerie
This year, I'm letting go of the need to have everything figured out.
Valerie
It's not going to be easy, but I need to do that.
Valerie
As you start this new year, remind yourself you are capable of letting go and you are worthy of what's waiting for you on the other side.
Valerie
I want to leave you with an affirmation is I release what no longer serves me and make space for the joy, peace and possibilities that await me.
Valerie
Repeat it as often as you need to this week and let it guide you as you you take those small but powerful steps forward.
Valerie
Remember, you're not too old, it's not too late.
Valerie
And you're right where you need to be for a fresh start.
Valerie
And it's your time to shine.
Valerie
I'll see you next week, but until then, let's embrace this year with grace, style, the confidence to let go, and of course, a touch of sass.
Speaker C
Thanks for hanging out with me today.
Valerie
If you love this episode, do me a favor.
Speaker C
Share it with a friend and leave a quick review.
Speaker C
It's a small thing that makes a big difference.
Speaker C
Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Speaker C
And hey, let's keep the conversation going.
Speaker C
Join me at pod.agingwithgraceinstyle.com for more tips, stories and a whole lot of connection.
Speaker C
Until next time, keep shining with grace, style and a touch of sass.