There’s a strange kind of freedom that comes when you finally let go of something that’s been weighing you down.
Whether it’s a bad habit, a toxic relationship, a past mistake, or just the idea of who you thought you should be, learning to let go can feel like getting your life back. I know because I’ve been there—overcoming years of binge eating, gaming addiction, and unhealthy routines that kept me stuck.
Let’s talk about letting go today, together. Here are 20 quotes that have helped me (and so many others) move forward when it felt hard to release the past.
Why Letting Go Matters
Holding on sounds strong. But in reality, it often keeps us stuck.
When I struggled with binge eating and laziness, I was holding onto comfort, fear, and false ideas about myself. I had to let go of those stories before I could make room for better habits.
Letting go isn't about saying what happened was okay. It’s about deciding you deserve peace more than you deserve to re-live the pain.
Let’s dive into some powerful words that remind us how.
20 Quotes About Letting Go
Here are some of my favorite quotes, along with real talk on how you can apply them to your own life:
1. "Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it’s letting go." — Hermann Hesse
Sometimes strength looks like walking away instead of hanging harder.
2. "You can’t start the next chapter if you keep re-reading the last one." — Unknown
When I finally stopped beating myself up over my past failures, my healing could actually begin.
3. "Let it hurt. Then let it go." — R.H. Sin
Feel the pain. But don’t pitch a tent there.
4. "Forgiveness means letting go of the hope that the past could be any different." — Oprah Winfrey
This one helped me forgive people from my past—not for them but so I could be free.
5. "Just because something made you happy in the past doesn’t mean you have to keep it." — Unknown
Old habits sometimes became my trap because they once felt good. Not anymore.
6. "When you leave behind what doesn't serve you, you create space for what does." — Unknown
Clearing binge eating out of my life gave me space to build a healthy lifestyle I love.
7. "You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway." — Steve Maraboli
I fought for control for years. Letting go was my first real step toward peace.
8. "In the process of letting go, you will lose many things from the past, but you will find yourself." — Deepak Chopra
It’s not about what you lose. It’s about what you find.
9. "Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over." — Nicole Sobon
Starting again is scary. But it is also a massive gift.
10. "Letting go does not mean you stop caring. It means you stop trying to force others to." — Mandy Hale
Trying to change others kept me miserable. Letting go of that need saved my energy.
11. "Even if you stumble, you’re still moving forward." — Unknown
Progress is messy. Keep going.
12. "The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday." — Steve Maraboli
Every day is a blank page. You get to write something new.
13. "Holding on is believing there’s only a past; letting go is knowing there’s a future." — Daphne Rose Kingma
Your best life isn't stuck behind you. It’s waiting ahead.
14. "Some things are just never meant to be, no matter how much we wish they were." — Unknown
Acceptance doesn’t make it easy. It makes it possible.
15. "Sometimes, letting go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on." — Eckhart Tolle
Real power is choosing peace over pride.
16. "If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello." — Paulo Coelho
Letting go cleared the way for new friendships, new habits, and new life in my journey.
17. "Courage is the power to let go of the familiar." — Raymond Lindquist
Familiar isn’t always better. Familiar can be toxic. Courage is choosing different.
18. "Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness." — Thich Nhat Hanh
I stayed trapped-by-comfort for too long. Freedom felt scary but ended up being everything.
19. "Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today." — Will Rogers
Every minute you spend stuck in regret is a minute you lose from your real life.
20. "Whatever comes, let it come. Whatever stays, let it stay. Whatever goes, let it go." — Unknown
When I accepted this mindset, setbacks no longer crushed me. They just moved through.
How to Start Letting Go
It’s one thing to read a quote. It’s another thing to live it.
Here are a few simple ways you can take action starting today:
- Write down what you’re holding onto. Get honest with yourself.
- Ask yourself: “Is this helping me or hurting me?"
- Set a tiny daily action toward letting go. Even five minutes counts.
- Replace what you release with something better: prayer, healthy habits, supportive connections.
- Celebrate every little bit of progress. Letting go happens slowly, not all at once.
When I let go of my binge-eating cycles, it didn’t happen overnight. It was choosing, every day, to love myself more than I loved the temporary comfort of unhealthy habits. Some days I stumbled. Some days I soared. Both days counted.
You're Not Alone
If you’re struggling with letting go right now, know this. You are not weak. You are human.
Whether it’s the fear of failure, the pain of a broken relationship, or just the weight of who you used to be, you have permission to start fresh. You have permission to write a new story. God isn’t finished with you yet.
Which of these quotes stood out to you the most? How can you take one small step toward freedom this week?
You have the strength inside you. You really do.
Let’s keep moving forward—one step, one small surrender, one new beginning at a time.
