In the practice of mindfulness, we are frequently invited to “let it go” — let go of thoughts, let go of emotions…
But how do we actually let go?
Without the right understanding of letting go, it can feel like there is something we need to do, or there is something for us to release, or fix.
In trying to let go, we may feel compelled to push away discomfort or suppress feelings, or reject an experience we don’t like.
But such aversion only adds tension.
True letting go does not try to push or control; it simply allows.
To let go is to be present with what arises—thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, sounds—without judgement, without the need to change them.
It is a practice of attuning to impermanence: everything arises, lingers, and passes. By observing this natural flow of life, we cultivate acceptance, gently transforming our relationship with our experience.
Grounding our attention to the breath or body helps the mind stay present, like a ship held steady by its anchor. In this stillness, even the most intense thoughts or emotions find their space to arise and fade.
So, letting go is really letting be. Letting each moment of our experience be as it is, without interfering.
And letting be should not be mistaken as passive resignation. It is an active, gentle attentional skill of keen observation.
It is also important not to allow this to remain an idea or intellectual pursuit.
Instead, embrace letting be as an intentional practice with every experience that comes our way.
When we stop struggling, stop grasping, and simply allow life to unfold on its own, letting go happens naturally. This is when we have the capacity to meet each moment with greater trust, openness, and equanimity.
In this Take A Pause live session recorded on 3 August 2025, the TAP community practiced letting go, by letting be.
We closed our practice by listening to a reading from Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness for Beginners.
Meditation Begins: 10:07
Reading Begins: 28:43
Meditation Length: 19 minutes
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