Let Go to Level Up: Rethinking Beliefs That No Longer Serve You
There’s a strange kind of comfort in what we’ve always believed. Even when those beliefs no longer help us, we tend to cling to them because they’re familiar, they’ve worked in the past, and letting go can feel uncomfortable.
But in a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) yesterday’s thinking can quietly become today’s roadblock.
Why Letting Go Matters
When the ground is shifting under your feet, holding tightly to outdated ideas creates resistance. What once worked may now feel rigid or irrelevant. The tricky part? Most of us don’t realize we’re stuck until the world forces us to adapt.
Maybe it’s a belief about how work should be done. Or how leaders are supposed to act. Or how decisions ought to be made. If those assumptions don’t fit your current reality, they might be limiting your ability to navigate change effectively.
Letting go doesn’t mean you were wrong. It means that you’re ready to grow.
Common Beliefs That Hold People Back
Here are a few patterns we’ve seen come up again and again:
“This is how we’ve always done it.” Maybe this is the case, but is it still working?
“If I can’t do it perfectly, I shouldn’t do it at all.” Perfectionism is a momentum killer. Progress matters more.
“I need to have all the answers.” In a VUCA world, no one does. Strong leaders ask great questions and build solutions together.
“Being vulnerable is a weakness.” This is not true. Vulnerability builds trust, especially during uncertainty.
How to Start Letting Go
Letting go of outdated thinking isn’t a one-time event. It’s a habit and you need to shift your mindset. Here are some practical ways to get started:
⭐Practice meta-cognition: Step back and notice your thinking. Ask yourself, “Is this still true? Is it helping or holding me back?”
⭐ Get curious instead of defensive: When someone challenges your viewpoint, pause. Listen. Reflect. You don’t have to agree, but you might learn something.
⭐ Create space for new input: Read broadly. Seek out different perspectives. Talk to people outside your bubble.
⭐ Focus on what works now: Just because something used to work doesn’t mean it still does. Context matters.
⭐ Celebrate unlearning: Changing your mind is a sign of growth, not weakness. It means you’re evolving.
Final Thought
In a world where things change fast, adaptability is essential and that starts with the courage to question what you've outgrown. If something no longer serves you, maybe it's time to let it go. You might be surprised by what opens up in its place.