The Art of Letting Go

Reflection: The Art of Letting Go

Embracing the Journey of Letting Go

One day, someone will walk into your home after you’re gone. They’ll open your closets, peek under your bed, and sift through the boxes you swore you’d deal with “someday.” And do you know what they’ll see? Not your memories, not your sacrifices, not your “just in case” treasures. They’ll see clutter. Piles of decisions left undone.

That truth can sting—but within it, there’s also freedom. The clutter you’re holding onto isn’t your legacy; it’s baggage. And if you don’t release it, one day it will be left for someone else to carry.

Messie Condo’s tough-love book Nobody Wants Your Sht* is not really about “things.” It’s about courage, truth, and reclaiming your energy. Here are six lessons that stayed with me and that I invite you to reflect on today:

1. Clutter is emotional, not practical.Most of what we hold onto isn’t about need—it’s about what the item represents: guilt, hopes, fantasies of who we could have been. Seeing clutter for what it is—a crutch, not a necessity—makes letting go an act of healing.

2. Your stuff doesn’t define you.Your worth isn’t in boxes or heirlooms. It’s in you—your experiences, your love, your growth. When you release objects, you don’t lose yourself. You gain space to be more of who you already are.

3. Inheritance is a burden when it’s clutter.Every box you don’t face today becomes someone else’s headache tomorrow. Decluttering now is a gift to your loved ones—relieving them of emotional labor and resentment.

4. Guilt is not a reason to keep something.We often keep things out of obligation—gifts we didn’t like, purchases we regret, family heirlooms that weigh us down. But guilt only chains us. Releasing them is reclaiming peace of mind.

5. Space is energy.Every object demands your attention—to move it, to clean around it, to decide what to do with it. That mental tax drains you. Empty space isn’t wasted; it’s breathing room for creativity, rest, and presence.

6. Decluttering is about the future, not the past.Each item you release is a choice to stop living in “what was” or “what if” and start living in “what is.” It’s an act of courage to choose yourself and your future over the weight of the past.

💡 The lesson? Letting go isn’t about losing—it’s about gaining space, freedom, and clarity. Nobody wants your sh*t… and maybe, deep down, you don’t either.

So today, take one small step. Open a drawer, a shelf, or a box. Ask yourself: Does this item serve the life I want to live now? If not—release it with gratitude and move forward lighter.

Because the real legacy you’ll leave behind isn’t clutter. It’s love, memories, and the way you lived your truth.

Hendrina Sterling Rodríguez is an award-winning bilingual psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist, and trauma-informed therapist. She helps individuals and couples move from burnout and emotional struggles to clarity, resilience, and wellbeing. Hendrina is the founder of The IF Wellbeing Hub, a space for self-paced healing, courses, and community.