Letting Go: Embracing Freedom and Inner Peace

In my monthly Core Meeting with my Chief group, our facilitator, Joy Khoo, shared a powerful poem that resonated deeply with both myself and the women in my group. The poem, "She Let Go" by Safire Rose, provided us with profound insights on the act of releasing control and embracing inner peace. It sparked meaningful reflection on how we approach life's challenges, reminding us of the power of simply letting go when we are weighed down by fear, judgment, or the need for approval.

Letting go can often feel counterintuitive, especially when we are conditioned to believe that more effort, more control, and more planning will guarantee the outcomes we desire. We live in a culture where striving is celebrated, and the idea of releasing control can feel like giving up. But what if true freedom, as Rose suggests, lies in doing the opposite?

In the poem, the woman doesn't seek permission or guidance to let go. She doesn't engage in endless analysis or search for external validation. There are no carefully constructed plans or even a ceremony to mark the occasion. She simply lets go of everything—fear, judgment, the need for approval—and in doing so, she steps into a state of peace.

She Let Go by Safire Rose

She let go.

She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of the fear.

She let go of the judgments.

She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.

She let go of the committee of indecision within her.

She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.

Wholly and completely without hesitation or worry she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice.

She didn’t read a book on how to let go.

She didn’t search the scriptures.

She just let go.

She let go of all of the memories that held her back.

She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.

She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn’t promise to let go.

She didn’t journal about it.

She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.

She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.

She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.

She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.

She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.

She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.

She didn’t call the prayer line.

She didn’t utter one word.

She just let go.

No one was around when it happened.

There was no applause or congratulations.

No one thanked her or praised her.

No one noticed a thing.

Like a leaf falling from a tree she just let go.

There was no effort. There was no struggle.

It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.

It was what it was and it is just that.

In the space of letting go she let it all be.

A small smile came over her face.

A light breeze blew through her.

And the sun and the moon shone forevermore…(She Let Go)

The imagery of the poem invites us to consider that letting go is as natural as a leaf falling from a tree. It requires no effort, no deliberation, no struggle. We can be weighed down by so many things—our past mistakes, anxieties about the future, and the pressures of societal expectations. But these burdens do not define us, and we have the power to release them at any moment.

In my own journey, both as a professional and as a Black woman, I’ve learned that letting go is not a one-time event but a continual practice. Whether it’s letting go of the need for perfection in our careers, releasing the fear of what others might think, or loosening our grip on outdated dreams, each act of letting go opens us up to new possibilities and deeper self-awareness.

At times, the most courageous thing we can do is surrender to the unknown. As Rose so eloquently writes, "In the space of letting go, she let it all be." In that space, we stop resisting life’s flow. We stop trying to control outcomes and instead embrace the unfolding of life as it is.

So, how might we incorporate this mindset into our daily lives? Perhaps it begins with recognizing where we are holding on too tightly. It might mean stepping away from the urge to control every detail and trusting that things will unfold as they should. It could be as simple as releasing a grudge or as profound as letting go of an identity that no longer serves us.

This practice of letting go is not about abandoning our goals or dreams. Rather, it’s about releasing the fears and attachments that prevent us from experiencing joy and growth. When we let go, we create space for new experiences, relationships, and opportunities that align with who we are becoming.

As you reflect on Rose’s poem, I encourage you to ask yourself: What are you holding on to that no longer serves you? What would your life look like if you simply let go? In the act of releasing, you may find the freedom, peace, and clarity that have been waiting for you all along.

Letting go is not about losing—it’s about gaining the space to be fully present, to embrace what is, and to allow life to flow through you with grace.