What are You Releasing?

As seasons shift, our thoughts may turn to growth and transformation.

And it’s worth taking a pause to consider what you might need to let go of in order to continue to grow. Letting go makes space for the ideas we want to hold, and for new directions on our journeys of Imperfect Allyship®.

Erica shares her thoughts on releasing the ideas and narratives you no longer want to hold, creating space to grow, and affirmations to support you along the way.

Listen on your favorite podcast player or keep reading to learn:

• Identifying and releasing the ideas and narratives that you no longer want to hold

• Integration and gratitude as you evolve and grow

• Affirmations to support you as you identify what you need to release

Letting Go in Order to Grow

On the Pause on the Play® podcast, Erica Courdae (she/her) says that she has been thinking about one of the ways that she and India Jackson check in with each other on a regular basis, not just about what’s planned for each week, but also the questions that they ask each other to debrief.

As spring turns to summer, Erica has been considering how she feels a deep need to be outside with the sun on her skin and her hands in the dirt, and how that connects with thinking about what she is releasing right now.

“Seasons really are representative of a shedding, a rebirth…because you have to let go of something in order to make space for what’s coming up.”

Erica relates the question of what you’re letting go of to Imperfect Allyship® in that you have to let go of things, to compost and release them in order to keep growing.

“You can’t figure out how you can make impact if you don’t ever let go of anything in order to figure out what else you can do, what you can do differently…Doing things differently means that you have to unlearn something in order to learn something else.”

Release What You No Longer Want to Hold

Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t have room for more knowledge, but that you have to release the ideas that are contradictory to those you really want to hold and amplify. It can also mean releasing narratives that were given to you that you no longer want to hold.

Erica says that if you are in a place of trying to decide what’s next, it is worthwhile to pause and think about what you can release.

She says that she feels called to cycles of going inward to consider what needs to be shed and letting go and blooming in line with seasonal shifts and it can be helpful to consider shedding, releasing, and transforming along with those cycles.

“There’s an opportunity…to really allow the seasons to guide you in checking in with what it is that you want to release, what do you want to compost, what endings are coming to fruition?”

She gives the reminder that endings are not a loss, because the only way for you to start something new is to allow for something else to come to an end. “That’s part of evolution.”

“Part of this too is rewriting the narrative on what an ending is. It's just a transition point. No more, no less.”

And as you work through the process of releasing, she says you have to allow yourself time to integrate and consider what will be different now that you’re letting go of these ideas or stories.

“You have to prepare the space for what's next.”

She says it’s also key to allow yourself to pause. “You can take that deep breath and before you start again, you’ve given yourself that moment of having gratitude for what got you here, and for what’s possible moving forward.”

Gratitude and Growth

Finally, Erica shares several affirmations that may be helpful as you check in with yourself about what you are releasing right now.

• I have found gratitude in everything that I have learned in this current iteration of my life and I am ready for what is next.

• I have found solace in my growth and how it has prepared me to continue to move forth in this thing called life.

• I enjoy the pause that happens as I am releasing what I can no longer carry with me and I begin to make space for what will accompany me on my journey moving forward.

• I am ready to begin a new journey forward. I am prepared to be the next best version of myself in the best way possible for the impact that I hope to create.

Ready to dive deeper?

Considering how you want to evolve and grow happens best with support. You can connect with values-aligned individuals across titles, industries, and experiences inside The Pause on the Play® Community.

Evolve the way you show up for yourself and others while growing your influence and amplifying your impact on your journey of Imperfect Allyship®.

Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community