Letting go is an exercised skill.

I had a conversation with a creative colleague recently. We needed to hash out some things about a project—our contributions, our capacity for it, and what was happening with it. There was tension in the air.

We both carried micro-injuries: being late here, miscommunicating there, or speaking harshly. Small moments that hurt the project, bit by bit.

We talked things through. I don’t know about you, but I don’t process everything all at once. When a new piece of information comes my way, it takes time for me to understand why I feel strongly about it. An accusation might feel wrong or an assertion might seem off, but I can't always explain why in the moment.

Often, I realize later why it bothered me—after the heat of the conversation has passed. So, do I go back and reopen the discussion? Do I say, "Oh, actually, that one thing you said made me feel this way, and you were wrong because of X, Y, Z"?

No. Unless it’s really bugging me, I’ve decided it’s best to let it go. And letting go takes practice.

Moving forward in relationships is more important than dissecting every detail. Going to the nth degree to prove who was right or wrong, covering every inch of ground—it’s rarely worth it. The last 5–10% of effort after you’ve resolved 90–95% of the issue can consume an outsized amount of your energy (Pareto Principle, anyone). I see letting go as a life energy conservation technique.

Learning to let go is different for everyone, but it starts with the desire to move forward.

So, what will you choose to let go of next?