My Let-It-Go List
This week’s free printable is a new twist on a to-do list: a Let-It-Go List. I use the Let-It-Go method when I start to feel out of alignment with life - stressed, anxious, bummed out - all the fun feelings. Rather than trying to figure out how to do more, or sit around feeling guilty for not doing all the things, I flip my thinking. What am I hanging on to out of habit or guilt? What can I release? How can I make space for the things in life that are really important to me?
I find doing this exercise helps me to let go of a lot of mental clutter, while at the same identifying the areas in my life that bring joy and peace. Because Joy and Peace are kind of my benchmarks of happiness right now. I don’t crave adventure or new experiences at the moment, but rather look forward to savoring simple days and peace and quiet and doing things that put me in a state of happy flow. And often my anxiety and worry are the only things that get in my way.
How I Use My Let-It-Go List
I start with listing out everything that’s on my mind. Sometimes this is a long list, other times there are just a few things I’m thinking about. Either way, I get it all out of my head and onto the paper. The list may include big things like How am I going to pay for my kid’s college? to tiny things like I should really organize my linen closet before family visits next month. (For the record, none of my family have ever commented on the state of my linen closet). In my head though, both of these examples give off the same level of anxiety.
Things I have No Control Over
Once I have my list written down, I identify the things that I have no control over. This could be things like what if I get stuck while traveling in a snowstorm or other weather event? (because = Maine), or what if my kid doesn’t pass their homework in on time and fails a class?, or what I am going to do if there’s a recession and I lose my job? There is absolutely a possibility that all of these things could happen, but there is nothing I can do about them right now. So, I try my best to let it go. There is no sense in dwelling on things that I can’t change, or things that haven’t even happened.
Things Other People Can Do
Next up is identifying things that other people can do. Like many women, I often fall into the trap of “It’s easier/quicker if I do it myself.” But that just means you end up doing everything forever. And probably growing really resentful in the process. If you don’t usually ask others for help, I’d encourage you to start doing so ASAP. Delegation is a skill worth learning. Delegating responsibilities is extremely helpful in my day job as I often end up picking up little tasks that, if left unchecked, will grow into major time sucks. After much practice, I’m now always on the lookout for ways to delegate tasks and ask others for help. At home this means being proactive and asking my family for help with the chores and errands, rather than waiting for them to read my mind or volunteer.
Things That Drain My Energy
If you are spending significant amounts of time on things (or people) that leave you feeling exhausted, resentful, depleted, etc…it’s time to let go. This is often easier said than done. For me, being around negative people who tried to manipulate me and make me feel guilty, became too much to bear. After several big traumas in my life, I finally began setting some personal boundaries. This meant effectively ending or severely limiting relationships with people who I realized just wanted to use me as their emotional dumping ground. I felt really guilty for a bit, but ultimately knew I made the right decision for myself. Also - just a reminder that I am not a therapist or counselor and this is just my example. If you are feeling overwhelmed, a good place to start is by talking with a professional healthcare provider.
Things That Don’t Need to Happen (now or ever)
The final culling is letting go of things that deep down, I know I’m not going to do. At least not anytime soon. This usually includes ticky-tack things like the aforementioned linen closet or organizing the kitchen spice draw. Or it might include longer term projects that have lost steam, such as finishing the family tree I started during Quarantine or hemming that thrifted dress I bought last summer. I may get to these things eventually, but for right now and the foreseeable future, they just aren’t important enough to be taking up any mental space.
Lastly, I think about what I’ll do with the time and energy I save by letting things go. When I clear out my mental clutter I have more energy to devote to passion projects, more time for meaningful connection with family and friends, and the space to just rest, if that is what I feel like doing.
Rather than pushing through a to-do list that is never going to end, letting the unimportant things go can help you make room for bigger and better things in your life.
What are you ready to let go of?
Are you enjoying Mabon House? Be sure to follow over on Substack and recieve a weekly letter and free printable, delivered right to your inbox.
recommended reading
Follow the Mabon House Adventures
How I am Celebrating Litha
Hello Friends,
I hope this finds you well and able to enjoy the absolute beauty of early summer. It’s been a dark week here in the US, but for better or worse nature proceeds on her own schedule, even when hearts are broken. I have found some much needed comfort in the trees and flowers and blue skies overhead. A hawk calls out unseen in the distance, while squirrels chipper to one another while dashing around the lilacs and rhododendron bushes, and a pair of cardinals call to one another from their nest in an old pine tree next to my back porch. The sun shines and the rain falls. And we are here. Together.
As I’ve mentioned in the past, I tend to celebrate the Wheel of the Year as more of seasons than specific holidays. So, as we approach the official start of Summer and the season of Litha, I thought I’d share what I’ll be up to over the next few weeks.
Litha as a Time to Connect
I think of Litha as a time for connection. Connecting with the earth, your friends & family and yourself. For me, this is more important than ever, coming out of two years of relative isolation at home. I am an introvert by nature and it is very easy for me to slip into solitude for weeks at a time. And while I do recharge from having time to myself, I find too much of it leaves me feeling lonely and a little sad. So, in the spirit of Litha I am going to take some time to connect with the people I care about, tend to my gardens and do some deeper self care work in areas that I have been ignoring.
Connecting With The Earth
I intend to spend some meditative time clearing some overgrowth from one area of my garden. An invasive bittersweet vine has taken over and slowly smothering several trees and bushes. It’s one of those things I that I keep meaning to get to, but never do. So this weekend, if all goes as planned, I will cut back the dead overgrowth to make room for new life.
Connecting With Friends and Family
A dear friend is going through some tough times right now, and so I plan to send a handwritten note and a small gift and let them know that I’m thinking of them. I have also set some dates on my calendar for June to spend some time with adult children, who are busy with their own lives now.
Connecting With Myself
I’ve recommitted to my yoga practice for the month of June. Over the past few months I’ve completely gotten out of the habit of daily yoga and I can feel the difference. I’m stiff and sore from too much sitting or too much exertion and not enough stretching. My mind is also stiff and sore. I find myself plagued with anxiety and ruminating on unhelpful thoughts much too often these days. I do yoga as much for the emotional work as the physical. Lest you think I am some kind of yogi - let me be clear - I am not. I don’t go to classes or retreats. I just follow along with Yoga With Adriene on YouTube. Nothing fancy. But it works wonders!
This week’s free printable is 5x7 Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson from his poem Merlin’s Song. I love to print these types of quotes and pop them in a frame and change them out each season. This one will go on my desk in my office. I hope you like it!
I hope that you are able to plan something special to celebrate the summer solstice. Please feel free to share what you’re up to in the comments. Also, I’m going to keep the official Mabon House IG shuttered for now, but if you’d like to see photos of my gardens (and my cats), please feel free to follow along at Lorri From Maine on Instagram.
Take Care and I’ll see you next week!
A New Litha Printable
Hello Friends,
I hope this finds you well. I’m sitting on my porch as I write to you, enjoying the warm sunshine on my toes and the smell of cherry blossoms in the air. The Wheel of the Year has turned more fully toward summer and as if in a coordinated dance, all the spring buds have burst into their summer bloom. The lilacs are swaying in the breeze and the dandelions are growing in wild abandon along the southside of my old farmhouse. The rhubarb leaves are bigger than my hand now and a very showy grapevine is climbing up the side of the porch, preening in the late afternoon sunshine. All the fiddleheads have unfurled into tall lacy ferns and the trees are dressed in their summer finery. A party is about to begin and we’re all invited.
I’ve been puttering today and writing this letter is about the only productive thing I plan to do. I stood barefoot in my shaggy grass, feeling the earth support me - a reminder we are all connected. Fat bees flit from one clossom to another and my cats lay in the shade, utterly helpless against the approaching summer humidity. I hope, dear friends, that the beauty of the season is with you.
It’s hard to believe there is only a month until the summer solstice. To celebrate the season of Litha, this week’s free printable is a brand new Litha Print. I hope you like it!
Have you started planning for Litha yet? I’d love to know how you are going to celebrate the Summer Solstice, in the comments below.
