Sometimes the Strongest Thing You Can Do… Is Set It Down

What if the clarity you're looking for isn’t found by holding on tighter—but by gently setting it down?

There are moments in life when a thought, emotion, or instinct clings to us like heavy armor.

We carry it everywhere. It shapes our posture, our breath, our perspective. But what if instead of muscling through, we allowed ourselves to place it—just for a moment—on the shelf?

Not to ignore it. Not to abandon it.

But to give ourselves the freedom to see it differently.

The other morning, I was carrying a set of kettlebells—50, 45, and 35 pounds—down a flight of stairs to my workout space. I had moved them many times before, but something made me pause.

I quickly assessed the weight and bulk of each one. Was I truly ready to lift these today? Not just physically, but with the presence and awareness required to navigate the narrow stairs without harming myself?

I made a plan: carry them close to my body, take each step with intentionality, maintain breath and posture. But the most important part? I assessed what I was carrying and whether I had the capacity to carry it in that moment.

Because when we are not honest about the load we are carrying, we get hurt.

It reminded me of how we carry emotional weights the same way. Some thoughts, feelings, or instincts need to be moved. But some? They need a moment on the shelf.

The Shelf as Sacred Space:
Placing something on the shelf isn’t giving up on it.

It’s giving yourself space to see it clearly.

When something is held too close, you lose the ability to fully observe it. You're too entangled in it. But when you place it on the shelf—whether it's a question, a difficult emotion, or a choice—you free yourself to walk around it. View it from different angles. See where it belongs in your life, if at all.

And you'll know when it's time to pick it back up, or maybe move it to a different shelf entirely.

Not everything needs time on the shelf, of course. But when you feel gripped by fear, shame, anger—or any emotion that pulls you away from confidence and clarity—that may be your sign.

Even if what you’re holding feels light but awkward, consider this: is there a better way to move with it? Could curiosity replace force? Could strategy replace struggle?

This is the work of living in Authentic Integrity. It doesn’t mean letting go. It means knowing when to pause.

Reflection Questions:

1. What emotional or mental weight are you carrying right now that could use a moment on the shelf?

2. Are you holding something so close that you’ve lost perspective?

3. If you gave yourself space—just for a bit—what new insight might arise?