If it was so easy to let go, we would have done it already. Right?

Letting Go

By Shoshana Schwartz

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ou’ve been told to “just let it go.” It’s common advice when you’re stuck in frustration, resentment, or disappointment over something beyond your control. But let’s be real — if you could have let it go, you would have!

Letting go isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. You can’t pretend you don’t care or force yourself to forget.

Imagine you’ve spent weeks on a work project, refining every detail, putting in extra hours, only to have your manager make last-minute changes that undermine some of your work. You’re left feeling frustrated and powerless.

Or your neighbor accuses you of deliberately blocking their driveway with your garbage cans. You try to explain, but they won’t listen. Every time you see them, you feel a flash of irritation.

Or there’s a family conflict that’s been dragging on for years. You’ve apologized, tried to meet them halfway, but they refuse to budge. They hold onto their side of the story and won’t see your perspective. The resentment sits like a weight in your chest.

In all these situations, there’s a strong urge to fix, control, or change the situation.

Letting go doesn’t mean agreeing with what happened or saying it was fair. It means recognizing that you’ve done your part, and understanding that the final outcome isn’t in your hands.

But if you’re right, why let go? Because holding on to anger, frustration, or resentment takes a toll. It drains your energy and keeps you mentally stuck in a loop of what-ifs and should-haves, robbing you of the energy to focus on the things that are in your control.

Try this helpful perspective: You’re just the employee. Whether in work, relationships, or daily responsibilities, your role is to show up, do your best, and handle what’s within your control. You’re not the CEO of the universe. You’re not in charge of every decision, every reaction, or every outcome. The manager won’t change their mind. The neighbor may always think you’re wrong. The family member may never admit their part. But you don’t have to keep carrying the frustration.

Of course, letting go isn’t always easy. Sometimes, we resist because it feels like giving up. If we stop being angry, if we stop replaying the argument, does that mean we lost and the other person wins? Letting go can feel like an act of weakness.

But what if holding on is actually what’s making you feel powerless? Carrying resentment doesn’t change the past, it only keeps you stuck in it. Letting go isn’t about weakness. It’s about choosing your own peace over the endless cycle of frustration.

That doesn’t mean pretending it didn’t happen or forcing yourself to be okay with it. Letting go is a process, not a single decision. It takes time, and it happens in stages. Journaling to process your emotions, taking a walk to clear your head, or simply deciding, moment by moment, to shift your focus away from what you can’t control — these are all steps that help you move through that process. Each small action helps create a little more space between you and the frustration, making it easier to breathe, think clearly, and eventually, to let go.

At its core, letting go is an act of self-care. It’s a decision to stop investing your energy in something that no longer serves you. The next time you feel stuck, remind yourself: I’m just the employee. Do your best, trust the process, and let the rest unfold. You’ll feel lighter, freer, and more ready to embrace what’s next.

Shoshana Schwartz specializes in overcoming compulsive behaviors, including emotional eating, codependency, and addiction. She is the founder of The Satisfied Self.

Our Second Brain

By Shira Savit

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ow often do we feel bloated, heavy, or uncomfortable — and go straight to I must’ve eaten too much or I ate the wrong thing?

Sometimes, that’s true. But there’s another layer we don’t always consider: what we’re holding emotionally.

Our digestive system is deeply connected to our nervous system through the gut-brain axis. That’s why emotions like stress, anxiety, or sadness don’t just stay in our minds. They show up in our bodies — often in our stomachs.

The impact isn’t always immediate. You might feel fine after a meal, and then hours later, feel pressure, bloating, or discomfort. When emotions are unspoken or heavy, they can create a kind of traffic jam in the body. Just like cars on a highway, when there’s congestion, there’s a backup. In the gut, this can mean food and gas linger longer, muscles tighten, and digestion slows, leading to bloating and constipation.

So what can help? Awareness is the first step. Simply noticing that our bodies might be holding on to more than just food can be a powerful shift. We can then ask ourselves: Is there something I’m holding on to emotionally? Deep breaths, placing a hand on your belly, and allowing yourself to feel your feelings without rushing to “fix” them can begin to release the tension.

Hashem made our bodies with incredible wisdom. Sometimes, when our stomach is unsettled, it’s not just calling for different food — it’s asking us to listen, gently, to what’s going on inside.

Shira Savit, MA, MHC, INHC is a mental health counselor and integrative nutritionist who specializes in emotional eating, binge eating, and somatic nutrition. Shira works both virtually and in person in Jerusalem.

Whether the Weather...

By Tsippy Kraus

AS

the weather heats up, staying cool and hydrated becomes even more important, especially during pregnancy, when your body temperature is naturally higher. Proper hydration is crucial for both maternal and fetal safety, and while drinking plenty of water is essential, adding electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) can make hydration more effective. Electrolytes help maintain fluid balance and support overall well-being.

For a refreshing homemade electrolyte drink, mix the following with a few ice cubes to keep it cool:

• 2 cups water
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp raw honey
• ¼ tsp salt

This mixture not only supports hydration, but also provides a gentle energy boost, thanks to the natural sugars in the honey and the vitamins and minerals in salt and lemon.

Tsippy Kraus is a childbirth educator and birth trauma release practitioner. She also founded Birth Journeys Online, a pre-recorded online childbirth education courses for Jewish couples.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 945)