The Empty Spaces

The prolonged season of COVID and social distancing has recently inspired a spirit of spring cleaning in me. I have found myself joyfully choosing to let go of the physical possessions that no longer serve me. In the process, I’ve noticed a deep sense of awareness about ways in which I have allowed something or someone to stay past their welcome.

While decluttering my physical space, I have recognized the desire to direct the same energy toward my business as I became aware of some old processes that were no longer useful for me. These systems worked well for the first few years of my business but, in time, my business outgrew these processes. Coming to terms with this reality was difficult because in failing to respond sooner I have delayed the growth of my own business. In order to lead my business at the highest level, I needed to address the fact that these outdated systems were rooted in my own limiting beliefs. I know that new beliefs and new ways of being are interconnected and I am excited about some of the new systems I am implementing.

I also found myself thinking about the people who take up residency in my online life. Much like my business, I too have grown as a person, and the people who are in my life should be a reflection of that growth. I noticed there were people taking up space in my social media feeds that I needed to let go of. Their voices once served me well but that is no longer the case. Just like the systems in my business, these online relationships no longer reflected who I am. As the leader of my own life, I know I need to be purposeful about who I allow to directly influence me with their words through social media.

While I was intentionally altering the narrative of my social media feed, I felt the need to rethink the people who are a part of my personal life. COVID has prevented me from seeing so many people face to face, but this has also helped me to gain clarity on what I most value in my relationships with others. I do understand that some people come into your life for just a season, so I am deliberately pausing to think about what I need from those I choose to have in my orbit during this season of life.

For me, the art of letting go is a scary necessity. The pervasive question of “What if?” begins to do its damage and, before I know it, I am second-guessing letting go of anything. But I have been down this road before and this is not a process I take lightly. There is a deep intentionality when I choose to let something or someone go because I understand what is at stake—the quality of my own life experiences.

Removing possessions, processes, or people that no longer serve us isn’t simply about the act of removal itself; it’s about understanding that we are making space for what is next, because letting go is an act of creation. Every time I have said, “I need to let go of this,” I find myself welcoming something wonderful into my life. I am convinced that this wouldn’t happen if I wasn’t intentional about creating new space.

I am purposefully closing some chapters with a spirit of gratitude. It is nearly impossible to embrace the future if I am holding tightly to the possessions, processes, and people of the past, and yet I am wholly indebted to the past and all that it encompasses for leading me to this present moment. I am beginning to believe that the terms “thank you” and “goodbye” are linked in ways I had not realized before.

Being intentional about endings is a form of compassion. Creating new space is an element of love. Letting go is a way of saying yes to what is next. And sometimes we discover our greatest gifts reside in the empty spaces.

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