The Art of Letting Go: Cultivating Mental Clarity and Emotional Freedom

This week, we're drinking Chamomile and Lavender tea while we talk about the art of letting go.  We navigate the complexity of physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually evolving. 

The art of releasing the weights that bind us—be it the past, toxic expectations, or self-imposed constraints is something  Tanya is still perfecting. But it's in the sharing of personal anecdotes, from battling anxiety to embracing self-worth, that we uncover the profound liberation of letting go. Together, we peel back the layers of our mental and emotional armor, learning to balance ambition with the tranquility of acceptance, and in doing so, we find the power and balance necessary for genuine emotional freedom.

Emotional healing isn't a road we travel alone; it's a journey enriched by those we hold dear. As we explore the ongoing process of letting go, whether it is letting go of careers, relationships, and personal aspirations, I invite you to join me in discovering the clarity that comes with self-forgiveness and the strength found in loving fiercely, living authentically and nurturing our growth to its fullest potential.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to Tea with Tanya. I'm your host, tanya Ambrose, an average millennial navigating life as a maternal health professional, non-profit founder and grad student. Join me in the tea tasting room where we spill the tea on finding balance and promoting positive living while doing. Hey friend, welcome back to another episode of Tea with Tanya transforming every aspect. The last time you and I met here in Tea Tasting Room, I was a little bit under the weather. My voice was not voicing the way it should have, but I wanted to ensure that you guys knew here in Tea Tasting Room. You were able to get that episode so you can listen, you can see what we have coming up on this new season and if you're new here in the Tea Tasting Room, you were able to get that episode so you can listen, you can see what we have coming up on this new season and, if you're new here, thank you for joining me here in the Tea Tasting Room. Every Tuesday we come here, we're going to sip on some tea and we're going to continue to work on our health and wellness so that we can just become the boss and CEO of our health and wellness, so that we can continue to transform every aspect of our life. So if you listened to last episode, you would have heard about our new update, our new name, a name change Tea with Tanya, transforming every aspect, because for the rest of 2024 and beyond, we're going to continue to transform every aspect. On the last episode, I would have shared my meaning behind the name and it just resonates really well with me because I'm currently in my era, in a phase where I'm all about success, I'm all about choosing myself, I'm all about just getting healthy in every aspect, from physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual. On this journey, it's very important that I transform every aspect, because I do believe that we evolve as the days go by. The Tanya from two weeks ago it was the Tanya that's talking to you today. Obviously, I mean the Tanya from about two weeks ago. Her voice was acting up, she was going through some of the health situation, but now I'm back on the road to recovery, back on my health journey, because, again, I am very intentional and I want to be very intentional when it comes to every aspect of my life. So that was one of the reasons why I decided to give our name here in the Tea Tasting Room and upgrade. So, yes, you're listening to the Tea with Tanya Transforming Every Aspect podcast. I'm happy to have you here in the Tea Tasting Room.

Speaker 1: 2:20

Before we get into today's episode, I am going to share the tea of the month. Now again, I know usually in the past we'll usually have our tea of the week. But yeah, girl, we're trying to do something special here in the Tea Tasting Room and I think it's going to be beneficial for us. So every month we're going to try a different tea and of course, you're welcome to have any other tea within the weeks that we meet here in the tea tasting room. And of course, you know, you know how it is. Send me your recommendation, because I'm trying to set my tea game up in 2024. So definitely want you to share your favorite teas with me.

Speaker 1: 2:53

But on this episode or for this month, no-transcript. And you know, of course, chamomile contains a powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial compound and that has a cooling effect on our digestive system and it helps to relieve aches and pains of, let's say, a cold or the flu, but it also can help speed recovery from any illness as well. And then lavender is also anti-inflammatory and cooling to the digestive system. Now, if you know, you know here, over here in this tea tasting room your girl, tanya. She's been having some issues with her digestive system. I have done allergy testing, I've done a colonoscopy. I've done it all to ensure that I'm getting to the bottom of my health and my health issues I don't want to say issues, it's not really an issue but just, you know, trying to figure out what's going on with my body. So right now, the best, the best tea of choice for me this month is going to be the Camomile and Lavender, because of course, it's going to be easy on my digestive system and that's what I need to be doing. That's a focus for me for the next couple of months as well. But again, I am happy to have you here in the Tea Tasting Room. I'm trying to decide if I have any life updates for you guys here sitting in the Tea Tasting Room. But I'm in school. The semester is winding down.

Speaker 1: 4:19

Let me tell you, the month of March has just been a month of me being overwhelmed, me being overstimulated, and I say for good reason, but at the same time it has just been a lot like I. A lot this month flew by so fast, but at the same time a lot happened in this month, both good and some bad, but the bad what? What I would consider bad or negative, you know it. It essentially helps me to grow. It helped me to recognize that I am that girl. So I'm going to say it again, if you're listening. I want you to tell yourself I am that girl and even if you're a guy here in the tea tasting room with me this week, say I am that man or I am that. I don't want to say boy, but you know I am that boy, I'm that man. Okay, because too many times you know we're going to get into the episode, we're going to talk about that. But yes, I just learned March pushed me beyond any limit, that I, I don't know like month three of 2024, honey, I mean, we're not even in my birth month, which is the best month, which is May, but never. Like I said, march just really was an overwhelming month and I really was overstimulated. All in good reason. Like my social media numbers went down. As far as me, what is it? My screen time for social media went down, which is not a bad thing, but a lot happened and that also birthed a new name here in the podcast and that is transforming every aspect.

Speaker 1: 5:34

Now, today you can't tell we're going to be talking about the art of letting go, and that's it was important To. To be honest, we had another episode planned for this week as we started the new season, but something just kept telling me that I needed to start with this particular episode, as far as what it means and how it's going to set the tone for this season. And just speaking about my experience over the last few months. So we're going to be talking about the art of letting go when it comes to cultivating mental clarity and emotional freedom. Boy, let me tell you.

Speaker 1: 6:13

But anyway, we're going to get into today's episode, but before we do, I do want to leave an affirmation of the week and I say affirmation, but you can take this how it is, and I'm stealing this quote. Essentially, I'm borrowing this quote from Pastor Travis Green here over at Forest City Church in Columbia, south Carolina. That's my home church now, and the Easter Sunday service was just exactly what I needed to hear, so I'm hoping I can relay some of that message to you here in the tea tasting. So if I get a little bit too preachy to say no to Pastor Ambrose, bring it back in, okay, but the affirmation, or the statement, or the quote that I want us to think about as we go into this week, even into this new month of April. I want us to think about it long and hard and deep when it comes to so many different things in our life. And that quote that Pastor Travis Green said was don't make a permanent address out of a place that's supposed to be temporary. Ooh, child, let me say that again Don't make a permanent address out of a place that's supposed to be temporary. Okay, when I said that quote knocked the wind out of me, honey. Listen, he did his good preaching today.

Speaker 1: 7:27

But anyway, let's get into today's episode as it relates to the art of letting go. So, first of all, you know, letting go, I think it's a phrase that we've all heard before. I've heard it many times, I've said it to many people. We just always heard that phrase letting go, letting go, let go, let go, let go, let go. But what does it really? What does it truly mean when you sit and think about it, and why is it so crucial or essential for our mental and emotional wellbeing? And, to be quite honest, you know when I think about how we can transform our lives. You know, sometimes we have to release the attachment to our past, our expectations and negative emotions.

Speaker 1: 8:07

Because let me tell you one thing about me and it can be a good and a bad thing I tend to have high expectations of everyone that I either come in contact with or I've developed a bond with or some sort of relationship. And that high expectation is not always necessarily that I'm expecting said person or I'm expecting whatever the situation may be to always favor me. It's just that I am the type of person anyone that knows me will always tell you that Tanya likes to bring out the best in other people. So sometimes, as a result of that, I tend to I'm going to push you because when you come to the tea tasting, when you come to, when you step into my office, into this room, honey, I'm going to ensure that you are operating at your best. End of story, like I'm not.

Speaker 1: 8:52

I'm not perfect, I don't always operate at my best, to be quite honest, but I always, for some reason, I have that motivating, that self-motivating factor, that drive in myself and anyone that comes in contact with me. I always want to ensure that I'm keeping people who are positive, who are doing something with their life. It doesn't matter how small or big it may be, but somebody who, like I, always talk about promoting positive living. That's what I aim to do. So sometimes I'll be out here having some very, very high expectations of people and then I in turn end up get disappointed or hurt because I place that expectation on the individual. They did not. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1: 9:30

So we're definitely going to talk about releasing any attachment to the past expectations and negative emotions. So let's talk about letting go. So at the core, at my core, at the core, letting go is essentially and again like I said, if I get too preachy, you let me know but letting go is essentially about releasing that grip of what no longer serves us. Let me tell you, child, again, my parents would tell you growing up they would always say Tanya, do we have to show it to you for you to understand that something has to go wrong, or for you to get in trouble, or whatever the case may be, for you to understand? You know they coin it, as Tanya always has to learn the hard way before she learns. And you know that depends on the situation.

Speaker 1: 10:09

Because one thing about me you know when it comes to my schoolwork, I'm going to learn. I'm going to get it on the first try or the second try, so I don't necessarily have to learn the hard way I did last semester because I thought I to rely on my what is it? Photographic memory. But in that particular class the photographic memory was not. There were so many different equations and compounds and whatever I had to learn that I could not when I I mean, I passed the exam, don't get me wrong, but I didn't do as well as I wanted to do. So I had to play catch up in that class towards the end of the semester and I got a B plus, which I mean I should have gotten an A, but that was my own downfall because again, I thought I could BS my way through that. But again, letting go is about releasing that grip of what no longer serves us. It's about freeing ourselves from the burden of our past and the anxieties that only comes to our future. Because right now I think I said it on the podcast I am currently on anxiety medication and me even talking, talking about this.

Speaker 1: 11:03

Sometimes it's a bit embarrassing, but again, if I don't, then who? I don't know. Again, I work full time, I'm a doula, I'm a lactation counselor, I'm a full-time nonprofit founder, trying to grow an organization that I have big goals and big dreams. For what else am I? I'm a grad student. I just I'm trying to find the balance of doing it all. But sometimes thinking about the future, or even thinking about even the present, sometimes gets me really anxious. And it's not necessarily a bad thing to be anxious, but I need to be, like I always say, I need to be on my zen level so that my brain can slow down. Because if you're creative like me, if you have ambitious goals like me, your brain is constantly going and it's kind of always. It's usually hard for me to turn my brain off because I was losing sleep. Not sleeping, it was a lot. So definitely it's about freeing ourselves from the burden of our past and the anxieties of our future.

Speaker 1: 11:58

But I want to talk about why letting go is so challenging. Let me tell you I think it's because, for me at least and you can let me know if you relate to it I think it's because we are wired to hold on or to cling on to familiarity, because you know, for the fear of the unknown. Yet yet, yet yet, in the very act of letting go, I think, lies power, an immense power, an immense power, that is, a power to liberate ourselves from the chains of our own making. Now, when I say letting go for me and again I heard this in church today when the pastors spoke about you know, sometimes we're in relationships with individuals. It could be a year or two, three, four years, and this individual is telling everybody in the world and telling you oh, you're the best woman, or you're the best man, the best partner, everything. But then when it comes to that ring finger, there's no ring on that finger to say, yeah, you know, you are the best, I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

Speaker 1: 12:53

So again, sometimes the act of letting go can be so hard because we want to cling to that familiarity. For me, you know, I was in a relationship for a long time and you know having to let go it's hard, having to separate it's heartbreaking. Because this is someone who essentially knows you at the like, the back of their hands. They know everything about you. You've shared so many things when it comes to life, so many milestones, accomplishment, but then for some reason you're not being filled, that that person is not pouring into you the way that you pour into yourself. So sometimes having to let go, because I remember trying to let go or letting go, but then I was still toeing the line or I still had one foot in, because again that familiarity this person knows me, I know this person for sure has my back, no matter what. But again we weren't as compatible as we would have liked or just sometimes things will come to an end, but again letting go can be so hard because it's it's familiar territory. We don't know what's going to happen for the future and that's why, again, we, that's why we cannot predict the future. We just got to take it one day at a time and for me, in this current phase of my life, I'm taking it one moment at a time like it's not even one day anymore. It's literally one moment at a time.

Speaker 1: 14:06

When we talk about letting go, let's talk about letting go on moving on from hurt. You know, moving on from hurt, ooh child, moving on from hurt is a journey that essentially begins with acknowledging our pain and granting ourselves permission to heal. I'm going to say that again, moving on from hurt, it's a journey that begins with acknowledging our pain and granting ourselves permission to heal. Now, whether it's the sting of a broken relationship or the ache of a missed opportunity, or even the wounds, our wounds have a way of lingering on and sometimes that can cast a shadow over our lives. Now, when we're talking about again, moving on, what is my relationship? You know you may be heartbroken, I've experienced heartbreak and it's just like, wow, how are we? Why are we here again in this, in this phase of life?

Speaker 1: 14:58

But then you realize, you know, sometimes you pour your thing, you pour your all into everything. That could be a relationship, it could be a friendship, it could be a career, your job, where you're pouring your all into said job, where one you're not even getting a raise or promotion, even though you you break your back or you just, you just keep doing the most for this one company or whatever it is. You're not, you're not getting a promotion, you barely can get a thank you. And that hurts, you know, because sometimes you could, potentially there could be an opportunity out there for you to apply, let's say, for another job. But then because of that flexibility that your current job probably offers or that you know you're familiar with that job, you're comfortable, you end up losing out on an opportunity. Because, again, it's familiar and it's just what you know In a relationship. You know in your heart.

Speaker 1: 15:46

Let me tell you this. I just want to say this real quick Make sure you always follow your gut. Because one thing about me when I do not follow my gut, I always end up in some sort of shit. Like every single time I don't follow my gut and it pisses me off sometimes because I'm like, oh yeah, let me just go against my gut and just think it's going to be a different outcome, and most times it's never that. So always follow your gut.

Speaker 1: 16:09

But whether you got your heart broken from a relationship, somebody that you poured your heart into, somebody that you envisioned your future with, and all those happy thoughts you had while dating this person and all the hopes that you had for this person, only for this person to hurt you and that happens in life. Sometimes you don't even know what's the reason behind someone hurting you or breaking your heart, and sometimes you can't even fathom or even understand why anyone would want to even hurt someone or even break your heart. I mean, trust me, I've been there. Like you're sitting there trying to find the answers and then you're trying to decide do I need to change who I am so this person can accept me? And anytime you think, anytime you start changing yourself to be accepted, that's also a red flag. That should not be a person or anyone an employee, boyfriend, girlfriend, family member, whatever it is. They should always accept you for who you are, no matter what.

Speaker 1: 17:04

So of course, you know when you're healing, when we think about moving on from hurt, it's very hard and there's no time limit. There's no time frame for moving on from hurt. Hurt could be the loss of someone that's close to you. It could be the loss as in you no longer talk to them. Or it could be a loss where you know they would have passed on and you no longer, because for me, I still hurt. It's been seven years since I lost my grandmother and not a day goes by where I don't think about her, when I'm sitting back thinking about the things that I've accomplished or I will accomplish. You know, sometimes I get sad because she should have been here to see that, because I know she would have been ringing that bell on her gallery, or, you know, screaming at the top of her lungs being proud of her granddaughter. So again moving on from her. It can take a while, but sometimes even that can cast a shadow over our lives, and we don't want to have that shadow over our lives. But again, for me, healing begins with courage, and I say this like from the bottom of, like the pit of my stomach Healing begins with courage because, with courage, with the courage that we have, you know, to face our pain head on, to sit with it, ooh child, to sit with that pain. Let me tell you, it's tough to embrace it because, again, you have to acknowledge your pain in order for you to begin to release the hole that it has on us so that it can pave the way for true healing.

Speaker 1: 18:26

Like I was going through a tough time, tough, tough time as far as, like, on an emotional standpoint, mental standpoint, you know, hurting, maybe shedding a tear here or there, trying to find questions, trying to find answers to the questions that I had as to why certain things would have happened to me I got to the point where, of course and I go to therapy every week, so I'm talking to my therapist and I'm actually even calling one of my pastors my favorite pastor, you know, yeah, my favorite pastor and we're having that conversation. I'm like you know, I'm going to therapy, I'm doing all the work that I know I need to do, but I just need to hear your opinion because I know you know me on a level that maybe my therapist don't know me or maybe you know other people don't know me and I was able to have that open conversation and in that conversation I remember him saying that you know I had to. I have to acknowledge my pain. Acknowledging my pain is going to be able to release the hole that it has on us and pave the way for true healing. And let me tell you, since that conversation and then, of course, continuing therapy, I've found a way to move past the hurt. What I'm gonna say work through the hurt, because I don't think I've necessarily moved past, because, knowing me, I do not move past anything that easy, especially when it involves my heart being broken or being disappointed or sad in how certain things turn out. So you definitely want to work through your hurt, but also know that it's going to release that hole that it has on us. Because let me tell you, child letting go, letting go is not easy, especially when you have a certain vision for how you want certain things to go. Like I said. That could be relationships, friendships, career, just your life. Even if you're a mom, that relationship with your child or children, it's a lot. So you definitely want to acknowledge the pain that you're feeling and then get that courage to face your pain head on, because we cannot run away from it.

Speaker 1: 20:11

There have been times when I tried to run away from my hurt and let me tell you, I was losing sleep, like losing sleep to the point that I'm not on sleep medication, but you should know my migraine situation and every night I'm supposed to take a migraine pill that prevents me from getting a migraine but also it makes me drowsy. So I essentially was using it also to prevent the migraine, but also so I can get at least a good couple hours of sleep. But it got to a point where I was running away from that pain, not facing it. So then I was stressing, I was anxious and I was just not getting any sleep. It was so bad, to the point that that medication that usually works and knocks me out in like 15 minutes was not working.

Speaker 1: 20:51

So you definitely want to face your pain, sit with it, sit with that pain and embrace it, because, once you acknowledge it, you'll be able to release the hold that it has on us. You know you want to focus on yourself. Focusing on yourself, again, that's not selfish. And, as they say, the phrase, you know, it's self-care. You know self-care is not selfish. You know we live in a world that demands our constant attention. I mentioned earlier about me being overstimulated and overwhelmed because, again, we live in a world that often demands our constant attention and even validation. So it's very, very easy for us to lose sight of our own needs and desires, and that's something that I struggle with even to this day. Have I done better when it comes to putting myself first? Absolutely, but I have a lot of work to do. I have a lot, a lot, a lot of work to do when it comes to putting myself first, because I always believe about. You know, service above yourself.

Speaker 1: 21:46

Like I mentioned, I always want to see the people around me, everyone who I consider to be a part of my life. I want to see you flourish. You're here in the tea tasting room with me. You're listening to my voice. I want you to flourish. I want you to live your best life. I want you to do things that's going to benefit you, that's going to make you happy, but I don't want you to lose yourself. I've been in a position where I've lost myself. I'm in the process of relearning myself, but also I'm also learning what it means to focus on myself, and that's not selfish. That is definitely not selfish. So don't you ever feel bad for focusing on putting yourself first, because the reality is not many people. People don't always put other people first. I live in a world where sometimes I think I'm living in a fantasy world, where I'm putting everybody first. I want you to win, I want you to win and I do, but in that time I cannot pull from an empty cup, and there's been numerous times where I've pulled from an empty cup. When I say empty, that even if you turn that cup upside down, you're going to even get a drip and I can no longer live my life like that. So I encourage you, if you are like me, please, please, don't. Let's try to focus on ourselves, because that's where and that's when we'll be able to help others or be our best self and show up for ourselves as best as possible.

Speaker 1: 22:57

Letting go is about redirecting our energy inward. It's about nurturing our own growth. It's about honoring our own worthiness. Sometimes we, you know we talk about I know my worth, I know my worth, but do we really know our worth? You tell me, Send me a DM comment on the next post, when you see on Tea with Tanya Puckers, and let me know if you really do know yourself or know your worth as it is. Because for me I'm like, yes, I know my worth, I know my worth, and then I found myself not living in that worth, not living in that truth. I'm dimming my light so I can let someone else shine, because you know that particular person or individual. It doesn't matter in what situation or what setting it is. They need to be the center of attention or they need to be the only one in the room that's smart or can speak eloquent, or whatever the case may be and sometimes I find myself dimming my light. Oh, my girl, do you know who you are Like?

Speaker 1: 23:46

I had a conversation with a friend of mine I'm going to give a shout out and she's been a guest on the podcast at least two or three times now and that's Michelle, or Nikima, aka Michelle. I had a conversation with her a couple of weeks ago. Nikima and I are the kind of friends that we don't talk every day because we're busy living our lives as far as our career and school, but we do check in and when we check in, the check-in is like three, four, five hours literally on the phone All conversation, no breaks, no breath in between, like I don't know how we do it. But it's just that I had a conversation with her a couple of weeks ago when I was, I would say, when I had to acknowledge how hurt I was when I had to acknowledge a situation for what it was or what it is. And I had the conversation with her because I think I replied to her Instagram story at one point in time about something. And she's like oh, Tanya, was she? She's the only friend that called me Tanya, but anyway, she was like no, tanya, this is something serious, I have to call you. So, of course, we do what we do, we schedule our call and we have the conversation.

Speaker 1: 24:46

And I just remember feeling so free after having that conversation with her. And I, you know, I felt the same way after having that conversation with my best friend, jarena as well, because again, I'm able to be my authentic self with them. The same thing with my friend Stephanie, you know, one of my best friends, friend Stephanie. You know, we, I can just be my authentic self, without any free of judgment. And I just remember, at the end of all these conversations, just knowing my worth and the first thought that came to my mind was I'm that girl and of course I started singing Beyonce's. I'm that girl, you know.

Speaker 1: 25:16

But again, we, when we talk about letting go, I want us to redirect our energy inward, nurture our own good and honor our own worthiness. As we say, nobody more than you, honor your own worthiness so that you can reclaim your power and find that value that resides within you, within myself and every one of us in this world. You know what I mean. That's going to be key when it comes to letting go and, like I said, I'm still working through letting go so many things that, as it relates to, maybe, career, as it relates to relationship, as it relates to friendship, as it relates to things even within my nonprofit, to be quite honest with you, even things here on the podcast, I'm having to go inward and nurture that growth that I'm seeing. The consistency is the reason why my podcast is growing Like never in my life would I think I'll be here and almost approaching 100 episodes Like what Pinch me, please? Okay, pinch me, but I definitely want us to ensure that we are honoring our own worthiness. That is key.

Speaker 1: 26:19

I want to transition and talk about the importance of mental clarity, and I think I truly believe and this was a conversation I had with my therapist as well, you know, I believe that it's a precious gift that comes alive or it emerges when we release the clutter of our mind, the regrets of the past, the worries of the future. When I tell her the regrets of the past child something that I try not to do, I try to like if I dream something, it's going to happen. So, you know, I've been having very vivid dreams about letting go of certain things, certain mistakes that I made in the past, what is within my family, within relationships, within friendships, whatever it is. I've been working very hard to forgive myself for that Because, again, I was probably younger or I didn't know better, you know. So I'm just choosing to release that, because a lot of that lives rent free in my head and let me tell you, renting cheap. I ain't got time for, not for all this space or all these occupied regrets in my mind Like, no, I cannot. Like, I have a lot that's going on, and if you're listening, I'm sure you have a lot that's going on. And if you're listening, I'm sure you have a lot that's going on or things that you want to achieve.

Speaker 1: 27:27

So why are we still holding on to things that happened in the past, even if we regret it? Regret it and move on, forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for not knowing better how about that? For not knowing better and even release yourself from even worrying about the future. We don't know what the future holds. We can only take life one moment at a time. So you definitely want to release the clutter of our minds by not thinking about the regrets from the past and not even worrying about the future. Just learn to take things one moment at a time.

Speaker 1: 27:59

So I'm thinking how do we cultivate this clarity of the mind amidst the chaos of our daily lives? And that's a question that I have on my post-it, because, again, when I say chaos, sometimes chaos doesn't have to be negative, but at the same time, if you're juggling a lot, or even if you're not even juggling as much as the other person, because, again, my thing is no one is much more busy than the other. We are busy in our own way. So you definitely want to. We're going to figure out how we can get clarity during the chaos of our lives and again, like I said, chaos doesn't have to be anything negative. It can just be a lot that you have going on. You could be a full-time, you could be a mom working a full-time job, being in grad school or being in your undergrad or community college, whatever it is, working on a certification. You could be a dog mom, a plant mom. There's just so many things that can contribute to what we can consider chaos of our life. But, again, we're not going to look at chaos as necessarily a negative thing.

Speaker 1: 28:56

Well, one thing that I've been consistent on this podcast is to really and truly practice mindfulness. So that's going to be a way in which we can improve our mental clarity. It's by practicing mindfulness and that's going to help us to bring attention to us so we can go inward, so that we can be fully present in whatever moment, in any moment, and allowing our thoughts to come and go Like, you know, a train passing on the train track. You want to ensure that you practice that mindfulness. I'm not sitting here telling you you need to go journal, you need to go meditate, whatever mindfulness means to you. You want to practice that. That way you can get those thoughts out, so you can start to gain that mental clarity in your mind. Because, again, in order for us to be healthy, we have to ensure that our mental health is good. That mental well-being has to come from, again, cultivating that practice to ensure that we are fully present in every moment of our life.

Speaker 1: 29:54

When it comes to emotional freedom, you know, emotional freedom to me is like the ultimate liberation Because, child, for me, it's the freedom to feel deeply, which I do. It's the freedom to love fiercely, which I do, because whenever Tanya tells you she loves you, she means it and she loves you deep. And it's the freedom to live authentically. I had someone tell me recently that I wasn't necessarily being myself. I don't know how they came to that conclusion, because I've been nothing but myself to said individual or even people in general. But when it comes to emotional freedom, it is to live freely. Freely, it is to feel deeply, it is to love fiercely and it is to live authentically. Nobody can be you but you, and I find that so often we find ourselves, imprisoned by our own emotions, aka me. Hello, like you know, you're trapped in a cycle of anger or resentment or fear. That has been me again. But again, the art of letting go means that we're unlocking that chain that's binding us. We're locking that chain that's preventing us from being our true selves Again once we acknowledge the pain that we're in or acknowledge that we're holding on to things.

Speaker 1: 31:06

You could be in a job for the last 20 years, the last 5, 6, 10 years, but it's a job that's not necessarily fulfilling you, but it's a job that's paying you enough to pay your bills and for you to live, I would say, a decent life. But also, is it something that you want to do? Is this the career that you saw for yourself? Sometimes you got to take that leap. You got to take that leap. Unlock that chain that's going to be binding you to that position. Unlock that chain that's binding you to a relationship that's not progressing Again.

Speaker 1: 31:39

I heard the pastor said today that sometimes we end up in certain relationships and I think he was talking about relationships for a second and he said that a person, you could be full inside. You could be beautiful on the outside, but you're full. You have some sort of substance in your life, some substance to offer your partner. But you know your partner may see someone who is much more prettier, maybe more curvier, whatever it is, but then that person does not have the substance that you have inside to give that person. You know that phrase when he says the grass is greener on the other side, I don't know how I feel about that phrase. But when he said that, I'm like you know what? Sometimes, again, we're here, we're doing a job that's not filling us, but you know what, it's familiarity again. So you just want to remove that chain. Like you know, tasha Cobb said break every chain. You want to ensure that you're removing that chain that's binding you or preventing you from not being your true self Acceptance.

Speaker 1: 32:27

We have to accept ourself. That's another cornerstone, another art of letting go. It's about embracing your life as it is and what we wish it to be. And sometimes I think we get so caught up, myself included, about what we want life to be. All this, oh, I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish, and we're not even embracing the life that we have currently or how we're living right now. But again, it's not even giving up, it's not even admitting defeat, but it's about surrendering, of course, to the ebb and flow of existence.

Speaker 1: 32:55

My friend Gianna, she likes to talk about surrendering surrendering to the ebb and flow of our daily lives, trusting in the wisdom of the universe and just finding peace amidst the chaos. And that's a big thing for me these days, just finding peace in the midst of chaos. It's hard, it's not always easy, but when you find those coping mechanisms, when you know that you're that girl, you're that guy, when you know that you're just that person, you definitely have to find the peace, no matter what chaos is happening around you. And again, sometimes chaos doesn't even have to be a negative thing, it can just be. You have a lot going on. Like myself, you know it's a lot going on, but but you're also in the midst of doing everything that you want to do, that you love.

Speaker 1: 33:39

You must find peace and as I come to the end of our tea tasting session here, as we're talking about the art of letting go, I want you to do something for me. I want you to reflect on what it means for you. What are you holding onto that is weighing you down? What would it feel like to release that burden and embrace the freedom that comes with letting go. Again, what are you holding on to that is weighing you down? What would it feel like to release that burden and embrace the freedom that comes with letting go? And I'll share my answer with you freedom that comes with letting go, and I'll share my answer with you.

Speaker 1: 34:17

I think I'm holding on to the potential, I'm holding on to the possibility, I'm holding on to thinking I know what the future is, when, in fact, the present, right now, is telling me and showing me everything that I need to do, or what I need to do as it relates to letting go, whether it's regarding any friendships, any relationships, anything that relates to my academic career or my career as a public health professional, whatever it is, if it's not serving me, I'm going to find a way to let go. It weighs me down and, again, it's not something that's going to happen overnight. You have to work through. We talk about moving past what we really and truly have to work through. Whatever it is that's weighing us down, what would it feel like to release that burden and embrace the freedom that comes with letting go? It'd be peaceful. Peace be still. May peace be with you. I think for me, if I were to release that burden and really, really, really and truly embrace that freedom, I'll be much more happier and I'll be much more at peace.

Speaker 1: 35:18

So that's your homework for this week. What are you holding on to that is wearing you down? What would it feel like to release that burden and embrace the freedom that comes with letting go? I want you to remember, my friend, that letting go is not a one-time event. It is legitimately a continuous practice. It is a journey of relearning yourself, of self-discovery. So I want you to take it one step at a time, one moment at a time. I want you to do that with compassion, grace and knowing that with each release, you're going to be moving closer to the peace and fulfillment that you seek, myself included. That's all I have for you, and I want you to carry this statement into the week Again don't make a permanent address out of a place that's supposed to be temporary.

Speaker 1: 36:08

I want to thank you for joining me here in the Tea Tasting Room. My friend, I'm happy that my voice is back. I'm happy to be here. This new season is going to be. The tea is going to. My friend, I'm happy that my voice is back. I'm happy to be here. This new season is going to be. The tea is going to be serving. It's going to be hot. It's going to be hot. So until I see you next time here in the tea tasting room, please remember my friend. Please remember to breathe, to believe and to let go. I love you for listening. See you next week in the tea tasting room. Thank you for joining me for another episode of Tea with Tanya. If you liked this episode, be sure to share it with a friend. Don't forget to follow on Instagram at Tea with Tanya Podcast. Be sure to subscribe to the weekly Tea Talk newsletter and, of course, rate on Apple or Spotify and subscribe wherever you listen. See you next time. I love you for listening.