The Art of Letting Go (Without Losing Yourself)

Clearing the Clutter—Inside and Out

Letting go sounds simple, right? Toss the old, make room for the new. But if you’ve ever stared at a closet full of clothes that don’t fit anymore—physically or emotionally—or held onto an email draft you’re not brave enough to send yet, you know that letting go isn’t always easy.

Here’s my truth: My post-baby closet has been staring me down for months. It’s filled with “maybe someday” pieces that I’ve been holding onto, as if one day I’ll wake up and magically zip those pre-pregnancy jeans with ease. Spoiler: That hasn’t happened yet. And honestly? I’ve realized that some of those clothes don’t represent who I am—or what my life is like—right now.

This realization hit home during the process of developing the Restore and Reset: Winter Well-Being Series, something I co-created through the MindFull Healing Collective with licensed therapist Ateeka Contee. We designed this series to help people reconnect with themselves and what truly matters, and I took the journey myself before sharing it with others.

One session focused on letting go—of clutter, expectations, and old stories. I started with my closet, out of all the methods shared, I decided on using the “Packing Party” method to box up items I wasn’t ready to fully release. I also tackled my nightstand, clearing out everything but the essentials—a book, a journal, some romantic essentials, and a candle that smells like peace in a jar.

It’s amazing how fast the parenting books, nursing supplies, and baby gear can pile up in what used to be a place for peace. Turns out, a little physical decluttering goes a long way in creating space for clarity and reclaiming parts of your identity. Plus the clear intentions I set and the approach I selected as a result actually made the process fun.

Then I turned to emotional decluttering. A visualization exercise guided me to imagine my fears and self-judgments floating away in balloons. At first, it felt silly, but by the end, I was practically asking, “Can I get an extra pack of balloons?”

Letting go isn’t about losing—it’s about creating space for what fits, both literally and figuratively.

I’ve felt lighter, clearer, and more grounded since.

If this resonates, you might love the Restore and Reset Series. It’s affordable, approachable, and designed to help you let go of the unnecessary while making space for the meaningful. Curious? Learn more here.

Whether it’s clearing a drawer, releasing a fear, or saying goodbye to clothes from a different chapter of life, letting go is an act of self-kindness. You’re not just decluttering—you’re honoring who you are now.

You deserve to move through this winter feeling a little lighter.

Warmly (and with a clearer closet),
India Tizol - she/her (formerly Jackson)

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I respectfully acknowledge that I live and work on the ancestral lands of the Piscataway and Anacostan peoples (Maryland & Washington, DC). This acknowledgment is deeply personal, as I honor my siblings who are descendants of the Piscataway people and their shared history. As a descendant of enslaved African people, I am committed to honoring the histories that brought us here and reflecting on the ongoing impacts of colonialism on Indigenous peoples, the enslaved, native creatures, and natural ecosystems.

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