What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?

We all carry parts of ourselves that once protected us, guided us, or kept us safe—but no longer serve who we’re becoming. Letting go can be one of the hardest acts of growth. Some of the most enlightened members of the community share their thoughts on this below.

Gia Ciliento

For a long time, my identity was completely wrapped up in my business. The Brush Bar wasn’t just what I did, it was who I was. While that kind of dedication helped build something I’m really proud of, it also kept me from seeing where else I could grow. Read more>>

Lori Oberbroeckling

The part of me that says “yes” to everything and everyone—that version of me has served her purpose, and it’s time to let her go. She got me here. She helped me be the dependable one, the achiever, the go-to person. She helped me build relationships, grow my career, and keep things running at home. But she also ran me ragged. Read more>>

Saunders Staley

Working a 9-to-5 corporate job was a valuable learning experience, but I quickly realized that no matter how hard I worked, recognition and growth opportunities were limited. It often felt like a dead-end, with little room for advancement or reward. Being self-employed and running your own business isn’t easy — far from it. But it offers something the corporate world rarely does: freedom. Read more>>

Peter Caswell

I think, as funny as it sounds, my perfectionism helped me a lot growing up. I think it coincided with my drive and passion and helped fuel it. While it definitely stopped me from doing things out of fear of failure, I think some of it helped me charge through to really dive into things and go for it. Read more>>

Amanda Donaldson

I am definitely a type A personality. Goal-oriented, feeling like tasks have to be completed immediately, organized and precise sometimes wanting things done a particular way: that’s me! While there are times and places for that, as a business owner and still seeing a full caseload of clients, it is hard to manage all the duties giving each one the time and attention it deserves. Read more>>

Joseph Gutierrez

**“I’d say the part of me that needed to keep secrets about my own high-strangeness — the side of me that bottled up my alien encounters, abductions, and missing time — has served its purpose and must now be released. Since 2006, I’ve carried the real Saucerman story. It’s not just a character — it’s rooted in a true encounter I rarely talk about. Read more>>