One of my small business CEO clients had been running at a non-stop pace for years. She was exhausted and desired to begin working differently, even though letting go felt risky.
So we began the work of prioritizing, delegating, and releasing to create margin.
And it worked.
Until she filled that space with...yep, more work. 😅
I lovingly gave her a challenge: Don’t just create margin. Add in something that brings you joy.
She chose LEGOs.
The next week, she showed me the beautiful and elaborate new set she purchased. The pure glee on her face said it all as she described its features. Simply holding the box sparked something. She blocked time in her schedule to step away from her desk and play.
No productivity goals. Just tactile, creative, and lighthearted fun.
She didn’t pick up that LEGO set for her business; she chose it to rediscover fun in a way that had nothing to do with work.
I believe it will bless her business anyway.
Neuroscience teaches us that when we step away from high-pressure, results-driven tasks and engage in something restorative, such as a walk or a low-stakes creative hobby like building with Legos, our brains get a break from executive demands. The shift reduces stress and creates the kind of internal spaciousness that helps us process, reflect, and access creative insight.
Psychology researchers refer to a phenomenon called the incubation effect, which occurs when you step away from a problem or constant activity. Your subconscious often continues working, leading to more effective problem-solving.
For my client, the simple act of building a LEGO set creates a sacred space of rest, joy, and peace. It's a grace-filled moment that can unlock more clarity than grinding it out ever could.
She is letting go...with the help of LEGOs.
What’s Really Beneath the Striving
The truth is, many business owners and leaders are not clinging to control out of bad intentions. They're simply trying to stay on top of everything.
The percolating thoughts:
If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.
It’s just easier to handle it myself.
I can rest later, when things calm down.
However, striving at work has roots; often fear, performance, or misplaced identity. While you focus on some of those deeper, bigger-picture things and renew your mind to the truth, you can simultaneously make progress in letting go with a simple exercise called The Let-Go List.
Step 1: Reflect
Look back over your week. Where did you feel the need to control outcomes or overextend?
Step 2: Create a Let-Go List
Make two columns:
Column 1: Tasks or decisions you can delegate or release
Column 2: Fears or concerns about letting go
(Sometimes what we cling to most tightly is tied to fear vs. strategy.)
Once you name the fear or concern, pause. Ask yourself: Is this true? Or is this a story I’ve been telling myself? Then, write a reframe, a truth, or a reminder that brings peace.
Example:
Fear/Concern: “If I hand this off, it won’t get done right.”
Reframe: “It may not be done my way, but it could still be done well (or ultimately even better) and will allow me to focus on more aligned areas."
Step 3: Choose One
Pick one item and ask:
Who can I trust to take this on?
What’s one small step I can take to fully release it?
Step 4: Reflect Again
At the end of the week, ask:
What happened when I trusted others or released control?
How did it impact me and my leadership?
Your Grace Effect Challenge
You don’t have to overhaul your whole calendar or fix everything at once. Just start by releasing one thing.
Start with your Let-Go List: name the task, name the fear, write the reframe. Then choose one small thing to entrust and pay attention to what shifts, both inside and around you.
And as a bonus? Fill that newly created space (even if it's only 30 minutes or an hour) with something that brings you renewal or relaxation. Paint. Garden. Journal. Walk. Play. Or hey…build something magical out of LEGOs if that’s your thing.
Whatever it is, let it be a reminder that sustainable, transformative growth doesn’t require grind, and letting go might just be one of the most courageous and catalytic things a grace-empowered leader can do.
And if you happen to hum Elsa's “Let it goooo…” while you’re doing it?
I promise I won’t judge.
The Grace Effect Framework
Want to see grace in action? Click the button below for more details on the operating framework for grace-empowered leadership.