Letting Go

In 2018, I was in California during one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent history.
I remember sitting outside one morning, surrounded by smoke and golden light, watching the sun filter through tall grass.
That moment would change everything.

It was there that the idea for a new wildfire detection product first came to me.
But to even start exploring it, I had to let go of something big.

Not just technical doubts.
Not just feasibility concerns.
I had to let go of limiting beliefs I (and others) held about what was possible.
And that was just the beginning.

Letting Go Is Not Easy

Years later, when I started thinking about taking a sabbatical, I found myself back in that same emotional territory.

At the time, I was a Director of Engineering at Google, working on life-saving technology using AI to help make the world better.
It wasn’t just a job.
It was my identity.

Resigning didn’t feel like changing roles.
It felt like letting go of a huge part of myself.

Even with coaching support, clarity about what I wanted next, and a deep sense of purpose, I still hesitated.
Because moving forward required me to leave something behind.
And that’s the part we don’t always talk about enough.

Growth Often Starts with Release

When I finally let go — fully and honestly — I stepped into my sabbatical year.
And everything opened up.

More growth.
More joy.
More opportunities to give back and help others in new ways.

I’ve seen this play out in my coaching practice as well.
People come in with clear goals.
They know what they want.
They’re committed.
But something still holds them back.

And more often than not, it’s this:
They haven’t yet made space by letting go.

Letting go of outdated narratives.
Letting go of comfort-zone roles.
Letting go of energy-draining patterns or expectations.

A Powerful Question

That’s why one of the most important questions I ask in coaching is this:

What are you saying no to?
What are you letting go of to make room for what’s next?

It’s a question that gets to the heart of change.
Because letting go isn’t about giving up.
It’s about opening up.

Over to You

Take a breath.
And ask yourself:

What do you need to let go of in order to move forward?
What are you ready to say no to?

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If this resonates and you’d like to explore coaching with me, you’re welcome to reach out
morschlesinger.com/contact