What It Actually Means to Let Go
Sasha Chapin
Letting go in meditation means allowing thoughts, feelings, and sensations to happen without trying to control them. Strong emotions may rise at first, but welcoming them can bring calm and understanding over time. The skill takes practice, and focusing on a meditation object can help beginners.
29 Oct 2026
Letting go simply means allowing the elephant to do what it wants. It means “let go of the wheel.” Not “try to drop emotions” or “make thoughts slow/decrease.” It means “let what’s already happening continue to happen.” If you’re experiencing an emotion, it means “stop trying to control the emotion,” not “stop having the emotion.”
Letting go is a skill that takes most people at least a few months of practice to acquire. This is what the skill acquisition process looks like:
