In yoga class, my teacher often leads us through the practice of letting go – controlling our breath, softening places in the body where we hold stress, and building awareness of tension in the body and how to release it. The cumulative effect is designed to feel more spacious, relaxed, and lighter by the time we emerge from class.

It recently struck me that I could do a much better job of carrying this practice off the mat and into my regular daily life. Here are some questions I began to consider:

  • What professional stress am I holding onto that I need to release?
  • What are the emotions surrounding this source of tension and what are the physical and mental effects?
  • What are ways that I can get to the root of this problem to overcome it?
  • How might I change my daily habits or attitude to minimize the stress?
  • What are other strategies for staying relaxed, focused, and healthy?

If you find that you have something in your career or professional life that is holding on in a negative way, I encourage you to ask yourself these questions and notice what themes emerge. What are ways you can begin the practice of letting go – and moving on – right away?