What Do You Need to Shed?

by Rochelle Melander

Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go. —Hermann Hesse

Multiple friends have told me it’s the year of the Fire Horse, an energetic and transformative year occurring once every 60 years.

Really?

Because my energy is stuck back with last year’s snake, soaking in wisdom and shedding old things.

Then I looked at the calendar. Aha! The year of the Fire Horse begins February 17. And that means I have three weeks to shed my skin! (If you like that image, check out the Indigo Girls’ song Shed Your Skin).

Before we can completely welcome the year of the Fire Horse and embrace new dreams, we need to say goodbye to the year of the Snake. We need to let go of the things that do not fit in our lives.

I can let go of big things like cars—the dealer always takes a trade-in. But clothes? I’m happy to add a few new things to my over-stuffed closet, even though it just multiplies the chaos.

What would letting go look like for you?

Clear physical clutter

It’s hard to think big thoughts when we’re dealing with straightening, cleaning, and arranging our junk. Look at your living and workspace, your closets, kitchen cupboards, and junk drawers. Choose the one space that bugs you the most. Maybe you find it frustrating to dig through stacks of books to find the one you want. Or your snack cupboard is too full to find the healthy treats.

What could you let go of that would give you more room to think?

Clear the habits

In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg wrote about his afternoon chocolate chip cookie habit—which included trekking to the cafeteria, chatting with his colleagues, and eating a cookie. When he analyzed the parts (cue, habit, reward), he realized that the reward he sought was chatting with colleagues. Afterwards, he replaced the cookie with a visit to a colleague.

Take a moment to journal about the practices, habits, and experiences that are no longer serving you. For each, look at the cue (what triggers the habit), the practice (what you’re doing), and the reward (what you get out of the habit). How can you eliminate what is holding you back?

Change the frame

Sometimes we get stuck because we are looking at our life through a particular frame or ideology. Let’s say I define a professional writer as people who produce writing with their names on it—books, articles, and blog posts. That frame might prevent me from seeing other ways that writers can contribute their gifts, including journaling, ghost writing, and copy writing.

Is there a mindset shift you need to make? How can you let go of the mindsets that kept you stuck and embrace the mindsets that helped you make positive changes in your life? If you could put your new mindset into a word or phrase, what would it be? What ideas, beliefs, or stories do you need to let go of to see the big picture?

If you need a partner in considering what to let go of, sign up for a consultation.

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