profile

Hi! I'm Adrienne.

Letting go without feeling like a failure

Published 12 months ago • 1 min read

Hey there, Reader!

Letting go is one of those phrases that gets tossed around a lot. It has bugged me for ages because it always sounded so vague and floaty. Like… What does it actually mean to let go? How do you do it?

Lately, I’ve been staring at the trees in my backyard as the leaves start to change. Some are a deep maroon, others golden, and every day more and more are falling. What struck me is that the tree isn’t clinging to them. It doesn’t fight to keep what no longer belongs. It trusts the cycle.

That image has been swirling around in my mind. I've thought about how we hold onto expectations, disappointments, and stories about how things “should” have gone even when they no longer serve us. When we cling, we end up carrying so much extra weight.

For me, this year hasn’t looked the way I thought it would. Maybe you can relate. I realized that ruminating on what didn’t happen isn’t helping me create what can still happen. So I’m practicing letting go...

Here’s what I’m trying:

  • Writing down something heavy I’ve been carrying, then tearing up the paper as a symbolic release
  • Separating what’s no longer for me from what's no long for me in this season that I'll return to later
  • Loosening my grip on outdated expectations of myself and others

I’m creating space for what’s next.

If you want more on this, this week’s podcast episode is for you.

👉 Listen to Episode 110: Letting Go Without Feeling Like Failure​

Let’s release what no longer fits, and create space for what matters most.

​
With love,

Adrienne

✍️ JOURNAL PROMPT

What am I carrying that feels heavy?

Which expectations can I loosen my grip on?

What would it feel like to not have this weighing on me anymore?

🤖 CHATGPT PROMPT

Copy & paste into ChatGPT or your fave AI tool. The more context you provide about yourself and your situation, the more robust results you’ll receive.

“Act as a values-based decision coach. I’ve been holding onto [describe the burden, expectation, or story]. I want to explore what it would mean to let it go. Guide me through three reflective questions that help me see what’s possible if I release it, and suggest one small ritual or action I can take today to practice letting go in a meaningful way.”

Ready for what’s next?

let's stay connected

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

Hi! I'm Adrienne.

Coach | Author | Better Days Start Today Podcast

One essay and one podcast episode a week about learning to trust what you know, through writing and body wisdom.

Read more from Hi! I'm Adrienne.

Hey there, Reader! I've been building something I'm excited about. For the last three years, I've been making custom AI tools for my own business: content studios, podcast workflows, planning applications, journaling tools, and community systems. I built them because the tools I needed didn't exist. Now I'm building them for other people. If you're a coach, therapist, consultant, or small business owner with a process that eats your time, or an idea for how things should work that no app...

7 months ago • 1 min read
Unwind With Winter Magic Sessions

Hey there, Reader! I released two Winter Magic Sessions over the weekend, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. If December has started to feel hectic for you, grab a notebook and pen and take 20 minutes to watch at least one of them. By mid-December, something usually shifts. Even when we begin the season with the best intentions, this is often when the pace picks up. Schedules fill, expectations stack, everything is somehow a bit noisier, and the season we wanted to experience starts to feel...

9 months ago • 2 min read

Hey there, Reader! It feels really good to be back in your inbox. The podcast took a little pause and today’s episode is a full update on where I’ve been and where everything is headed next. If you’ve been with me for a while, thank you for sticking with me. If you’re new here, welcome. I’m happy you’re here. I want to start with the thing I’m most excited about, because it’s been on my heart for months. The Writing Wild Society Is Open Writing Wild Society is my new community space for women...

9 months ago • 3 min read