How to Release Stress and Find Inner Peace

Have you ever held onto something for so long that you didn’t even realize the weight it carried—until you finally let it go? Maybe it was a grudge, a fear, or even an expectation that life should have gone a certain way. We all do it. We cling to thoughts, emotions, and past experiences like souvenirs from a trip we didn’t even enjoy. And the funny thing? We think holding on keeps us in control. But in reality, it does the opposite. I remember a client telling me, “I know I need to let go, but I don’t know how.” And that’s the tricky part, isn’t it? Letting go isn’t something you do—it’s something you allow.

The Illusion of Holding On

Paul McKenna, a well-known hypnotist, often talks about how our minds are wired to replay emotions like a broken record. It’s as if our brains believe that by holding onto stress, we’re somehow preparing for the worst. But what actually happens? We get stuck. We keep reliving that argument from three years ago. We stress about things we think might happen. We try to control what’s uncontrollable—other people, the past, the future. I once heard McKenna say on his Podcast, “You are not your thoughts.” And that hit me. Because if we are not our thoughts, why do we let them run our lives?

What Letting go ‘really’ means

Let’s get real—letting go isn’t about pretending something didn’t happen or forcing yourself to “just move on.” It’s about shifting how you hold that experience in your mind. Imagine you’re gripping a rope tightly. The harder you hold on, the more it burns your hands. But the moment you loosen your grip, relief sets in. The rope is still there, but it’s not hurting you anymore. That’s what letting go feels like.

It’s a decision. A choice to release the tension, even if the memory or situation still exists.

Resistance of the Mind

Your brain is a storyteller, and it loves to keep the drama alive. “What if I let go and they never apologize?” “What if I stop worrying and something bad happens?” “What if I forgive myself, but I don’t deserve to?”

See the pattern? Holding on gives us the illusion of control. But control is just a trick of the mind. Letting go, on the other hand, is freedom.

The Moment it Clicks

I remember guiding someone through a simple mental exercise to let go of guilt. She looked at me, wide-eyed, and said, “Wait… that’s it?”

Yes. That’s it.

Letting go isn’t always a dramatic process. Sometimes, it’s just a quiet moment when you decide:

💭 I don’t need to carry this anymore.

💭 This thought no longer serves me.

💭 I choose peace.

And the best part? The more you practice this, the lighter you feel.

A Simple Way to Anchor Inner Peace

If you struggle to release stress, try Paul McKenna’s Calm Anchor Meditation. It’s simple: recall a moment of deep peace, relive it in your mind, and gently press your thumb and forefinger together as a signal to your brain. Over time, this physical anchor will instantly bring back that sense of calm whenever you need it.

Letting go isn’t about forcing yourself to move on—it’s about allowing yourself to be free. And that freedom? It’s available to you right now.

So, what are you ready to release today? Let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts.