Read This Poem about Letting Go… So You Can Feel Free Again
Letting go of the past, the hurt, the perfect picture in your head — that’s NOT so easy to do. Still, it’s worth a shot trying. Read this poem about letting go to feel a little freer. You deserve that much.
Let go of what you’re holding on to so tightly, and it’ll stop holding you so much.
Life isn’t in your favor a lot of the time. Yet… it is. Life is on your side. It’s why you’re here in the first place.
When you wish you could change what can’t be changed, try starting with something small. Like, putting your hand on your heart. Focusing on your breathing. Looking at yourself in the mirror and saying, “I forgive you. I trust you. I believe in you.”
Or, reading this poem about letting go.
Not needing to control the outcome frees you to live your life right here and now.
Letting go of what you can’t change (even for a few deep breaths) changes YOU. And you’re the most precious element in real and lasting change.
A Poem about Letting Go and Letting Ourselves Truly Enjoy Being Alive
I find myself wishing
For what I think is right,
But how can I know
The secrets of life?
If I keep clinging to what I know,
I’ll miss so much life.
The one thing I see now
Is that holding on to control
Only drains me of life:
It is a fight.
What if I stopped for a moment,
Just this one sliver of time,
And put what I’m holding
On hold?
Maybe then I’ll see
That there’s no need to look at life
Through a stained glass window;
There’s no need to cover my eyes
From the way life is,
Just for this one moment in time.
I think I see how
I’ve been keeping myself
Out of the light–
How I’ve been holding on to
The lonely gold of
What I think is right for me
When, in reality,
How could I know
The span of life?
How can I know
The depth of life
When I’ve broken it up
Into pieces,
Hoping to be the maker?
I cannot choke life
Into being what I want;
I am not the maker of what I see,
But I am in charge of how
It is seen.
I do not renounce the world,
Or what I see with my eyes,
But I look upon what I see
With new eyes.
If I look from inside,
I can see clearly
That how I see what I see
Is all I need to control.
Letting go of the ties
That pull me away from peace,
I hear the still space
Inside of me,
And I see the truth
Through new eyes.
Things can be different,
But I am not all alone
In my quest to see
Another, easier way.
If I release my weary struggle,
I can stop grasping for the answer;
I can stop
Wishing for “someday.”
There’s something else,
A greater plan and a higher intelligence,
And to it, I say:
Help me let go of wishing,
So that my heart
May match the heartbeat
Of a better way.
Plant my feet firmly
In the soil of today.
Reset my sight,
So that from this moment
I feel no need to stray.
There’s a call to let go of
What’s not meant for me to hold.
Peace is what I want now–
That’s life’s true gold.
Every single moment
Of surrender
Is a peace treaty with
My soul.
. . .
Tell me:
What did this poem about letting go mean to you?
What do you need to release, surrender, or soften?
Tell me in the comments. I read and respond to every single one, and I’d love to know!
Share this poem with a friend who deserves to feel free.
Letting go is a lightness.
Love,
Jen
P.S. Need help letting go of what’s heavy… every single day? Get my book, Morning Affirmations: 200 Phrases for an Intentional and Openhearted Start to Your Day. If what you can’t change (or can’t figure out how to change yet) is keeping you up at night, get my other book, Sleep Affirmations. Feel free again.
Comments on this post (21)
Carol, may you be surrounded by all the support and light you need to get through each day, and then to find a bit of beauty in the smallest things. Sending all my love <3
— Jennifer Williamson
Dear Jennifer,
I found your poem this evening and I consider it a great gift. Thank you.
I was searching for some comfort, some way to want to continue to live with the never ending pain that has disabled and almost destroyed me for so many years. I found such relief and hope reading your words. Please accept my gratitude for your beautiful creation. I love knowing it is there when I need it.
Carol
— Carol
Jolie, you can absolutely do that. Thank you and I’m so glad this poem speaks so true to you. <3
— Jennifer Williamson
Your poem means so much to me. Thank you for sharing. Do you mind if i use it with your credits to accompany my Picture and Blog post?
Thank you again for sharing.
— Jolie
Evelyn, thank you for sharing this and for keeping your heart open even after everything you’ve been through. That is no small thing. Sometimes we can only heal our childhood by how we ourselves live as adults. Forgiveness is a tough thing, but a liberation. As is self-respect, setting boundaries, and talking about what we need. Wishing you both peace. x
— Jennifer Williamson
My brother and I have had a very rough childhood, and we’re constantly wondering why the adults in our lives behaved the say they did , sent this to my brother because both of us need to leave the past behind, and we will never get the answers to our questions..
— Evelyn
Lindsay, thank you for letting me know! I love that. So glad you could share this with your group and experience something special together. I think a releasing ceremony sounds just perfect right now.
— Jennifer Williamson
Jennifer, I used your poem during a releasing ceremony last night for my group coaching program and it was SO powerful! Thank you for sharing your gift with the world <3
— Lindsay
Marko, my heart and support are with you as you move through this. May you feel lighter and trust in the process, even when you don’t understand it. All the best ~ Jen
— Jennifer Williamson
My wife and I of 24years had received news that she wasn’t going to live long a year being optimistic. I stood by her side
I quit my job to take care of her full time.Her illness progressed
She had needed me to let go
I said I never would. Already dying she had taken alot of pills. I asked why and she said,“because I wouldn’t let go.” Reluctantly over some time I let go. Shortly after because I wouldn’t even go outside for weeks. My sister sent a friend to check on me. I told this girl I was fine. She wouldn’t leave she would stay there just reading while I was in other room remodeling. Every now and then I would look out and she would be there. After some time went by( week’s).She came and helped me clean and we started to talk. I started to laugh again.Not only enjoy but look forward to conversation. My wife had been in a coma. My wife came out of her coma and was told things could possibly get better she was misdiagnosed. I was so happy to hear that and then this guilt came over me in so many ways. I had begun to fall for the this girl that cared enough to stay. She had fallen for me as well. I was instantly torn for my wife had no recollection of the past year.I haven’t let go of either and now my wife is on her death bed. The other refuses to wait any further. This poem has helped me to understand that to try and hold on to what I feel only kills. Not just me. It has allowed me to put my hope and trust in a higher intelligence and let go of all I can’t control.
— Marko Ortivez
I absolutely love this and needed to hear this today 💯
— Ceara
Jason, you are so sweet, thank you! I’m grateful and glad you enjoyed this poem. I hope it could be a little light in your day.
— Jennifer Williamson
I feel that your Beautiful poem can reach the hardest of hearts.. I also feel like you are a Very Beautiful Lady. I could only hope! Please get back to me.. Thank you for more than you know..
— Jason Tyner
Gloria, you’re very welcome. I’m touched this poem can support you as you release what you don’t need anymore. One day, one thing at a time. x
— Jennifer Williamson
This is a very inspiring poem. I have been in a holding pattern in my life. It has been over a year since I’ve felt useful or interested without worry ….so I really need to let go in all areas of my life. Clutter control everything so I will read this poem again as I am trying to declutter and let go of people and things thank you for sharing.
— Gloria
Rob, you’re allowed to love for a lifetime, and to take things at your own pace. There’s no rush for healing, for anything. I’m so glad this poem spoke to you and can support you right now through all the heartbreak and questions. Wishing you more light and small moments of joy this year <3
— Jennifer Williamson
Hey Jennifer….Thx so much for this poem. These words of truth are known by my heart….but so many fond memories in my head. At every turn I see her…I feel her…so difficult….so, so heartbreaking. I believe in my heart that we both gave our all, but life circumstances and distance were just too much I suppose. It was never supposed to happen in the first place….from friendship to falling in love is a long trip of hope and trust. The poem brought my truths all home to me…it is the same that I realize on most days….but those dreams seem to never die. Friends say….give it time…you will heal….but my love was meant for a lifetime…and I will go to my grave loving her. I hope to get to a point of feeling the freedom to smile and be happy.
— rob
Patricia, thank you for an open heart and sharing this here with me. I have you in my thoughts and hope that you find peace and feel lighter inside this difficult experience. <3
— Jennifer Williamson
Thank you for this poem. You have no idea how much I needed to read this as I’m struggling with estrangement from my adult son. I want so desperately to have a better relationship and would do anything I could to make it happen. Every day is a struggle letting go of what I have no control over and wishing so desperately that things were different. But this poem was very calming.
— Patricia Kennedy
Hi James, I’m so glad you love this. Thank you for telling me, and for sharing a piece of your story and heart with me here ~ letting go, moving forward, accepting and trying to grow through these kinds of things is one of the hardest things to do. But you can do it. I’m sorry you’re going through this right now, and if there’s anything I can do to help, let me know! You can always email me :) wishing you surprise joy, small moments of peace, and hope for the future <3 Jen
— Jennifer Williamson
I love this poem , I’ve been going through a tough difficult relationship. Where I was cheated on , and she didn’t love me the way she had love her ex . So I was holding on to hope things get better . But reading this poem made me realize I can’t hold on what is not there
— James Gant