Release to Rise: Breaking Free From What's Holding You Back

"You are never too old to start over, but you can be too old to keep doing things that don’t work."

I’m excited about 2026! I have some goals I hope to accomplish, but first I must let go of a few things that are holding me back.

As a small change Wellness Coach, I write to teach, and, in all honesty, writing long blog posts doesn’t jibe with my small change philosophy.  So this year, I’m letting go of the need to fit conventional blogging formats and sharing in a way that feels more authentic.

What about you? What goals are you excited to accomplish this year? Are there things you might need to let go of so you can move forward—habits or routines that just aren’t working for you anymore?

There's an ancient Buddhist story of “The Monkey Trap.” Hunters would hollow out a coconut, put rice inside through a small hole, and stake it to the ground. A monkey would reach in and grab the rice, but with a closed fist, its hand couldn't fit back through the hole. The monkey could escape at any moment by simply letting go of the rice—but it wouldn't. It would sit there, trapped by its own grip, until the hunters arrived.

Freeing yourself of excess baggage can be tough - but so is holding on. It makes for a miserable life. And sometimes, we get so used to the misery that it becomes the norm.  But it doesn’t have to be that way.

You don’t have to allow unwanted baggage to weigh you down in 2026. Instead, try my simple, small change ABC-123 Goal Setting Strategy:

1) Acknowledge your desire to let go of just one thing that isn’t working.

2) Believe in your ability to let go. Think of something you let go of in the past and how it made you feel.

3) Commit to making one small change:

1.            Grab a pen and paper and take a few minutes to write the answer to this question: What bothers you most right now?

2.            Describe what it looks like in your daily life and how it makes you feel.

3.            Now describe how it would feel to let go of what bothers you.

Ask yourself if “Release” should be your word of focus in 2026? If so, spend 10 minutes a day learning what it means to “release” the old and make room for the new!

If you’d like some support letting go—or know someone who feels stuck—I’m here to help. Reach out to me at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com.  

Let go of what isn’t working; Be Well!

For additional wellness tips, subscribe to my small change Weekly Wellness Tips at https://www.myrtlerussell.com/contact-us.