Letting Go of The Old To Create Space for New

Recently, I had to make a tough decision. I’d spent the last year working on a project that was good—really good—but it wasn’t making me feel great. It wasn’t lighting me up the way I knew it should. After much reflection, I realized that holding onto this project was preventing me from moving forward with something even greater. And that’s when I had to confront a truth I often share with the leaders I coach: As you become more successful, the real challenge isn’t choosing between good and bad, but letting go of the good so you can create space for the great.

This sounds simple, but the process of letting go is anything but easy. It’s hard because we fall into what’s known as sunk cost bias—the tendency to keep investing in something because of how much we’ve already put into it. We think, “I’ve spent so much time and energy on this, I can’t let it go now!” even when deep down, we know it’s no longer the right fit.

The reality is, holding onto what’s good—just because it’s comfortable or familiar—can prevent us from experiencing the truly great. When we refuse to let go, we stay stuck, blocking new opportunities and growth from coming into our lives.

This reminds me of a story from ancient Indian wisdom