Release List
I’m stepping out of one of the biggest chapters of my life — finishing my doctorate in Special Education — and into a brand new school year as a school leader. At the same time, I’m dusting off creative projects that have been sitting on the shelf during my doctoral program.
It feels like standing in a doorway between two rooms: one I’m leaving behind, one I’m stepping into. And before I cross over, I want to make sure I’m not dragging along the bags I don’t need anymore.
So I grabbed a notebook and asked myself a deceptively simple question:
“What do I need to leave behind before I begin this next season?”
At first, nothing came. Then, everything came.
I wrote down the daily irritants — like rushing from meeting to meeting, or letting small delays throw me off — and the deeper weights — like past workplace hurts, or the opinions of people I haven’t seen in decades.
Patterns started to jump out at me:
Old resentments that still whisper into my present.
Perfectionist thinking that makes me rigid when life is calling for flexibility.
Comparisons that steal joy before it even takes root.
An inner critic who thinks it should still be in charge.
Naming them was good. But I knew it wasn’t enough.
Turning the List Into a Ritual
I rewrote each entry as a declaration. Something I could actually say out loud to let it go:
I release the need to rush through my days.
I release the emotions of other people that are not mine to carry.
I release the habit of discounting the positive.
I release my joy from the grip of politics and social media.
When I read them, it feels like setting down bags I’ve been carrying for miles. Lighter. Freer. More me.
The Charge Behind the Release
This isn’t about positive thinking for its own sake. It’s about refusing to keep feeding the thoughts and habits that keep me tired, small, or distracted.
It’s permission to live lighter, lead with clarity, and create with focus — without the constant pull of the past or the weight of things I can’t control.
Because here’s the truth: I can’t carry all of that and step fully into the leader, creator, and person I’m becoming. And neither can you.
Your Turn
Make your own “Leave Behind” list. Don’t overthink it — just write. Be specific. Be honest. And when you’re done, rewrite each line as a release statement.
Say them out loud. Mean them. Let them go.
Reflection Question:
What is one thought, habit, or weight you’re ready to release before you step into your next season?
