Today I Choose to be Released – How to be Released

How to Be Released: A Guide for Women Over 50 Finding Freedom and Flow

Learning how to be released from life’s burdens becomes increasingly important as we enter our fifth decade and beyond. As a woman in her mid-fifties, I’ve discovered that releasing isn’t just about letting go – it’s about consciously choosing what deserves our energy and what doesn’t.

Understanding What It Means to Be Released

Being released involves a deliberate unwinding of the tension we’ve accumulated through decades of caring for others, managing careers, and maintaining relationships. Yesterday, while in my sixth decade, I realized how much unnecessary weight I’d been carrying – from outdated obligations to expired guilt about choices made decades ago.

The process of becoming released requires us to examine our current responsibilities with fresh eyes. My husband pointed out something I’d never noticed: how I still maintained the same intensive cleaning schedule from when our children were young, despite our empty nest status. This revelation led to my first practical step toward being released from outdated routines.

Physical Strategies for How to Be Released

The body holds onto tension in ways we often don’t recognize until we actively work to release it. Here are essential physical practices that support release:

1. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Start with your toes and work upward, tensing each muscle group for 5 seconds before consciously releasing. This practice helps identify where we’re holding tension unconsciously.

2. Gentle Movement Practices: Yoga, tai chi, or simple stretching routines designed specifically for women over 50 can facilitate physical release. As one participant in my women’s group shared, “I never knew how much tension I carried in my shoulders until I started doing daily shoulder rolls.”

3. Breath Work: Deep diaphragmatic breathing signals our nervous system to release stress. Practice the 4-7-8 breathing technique: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale for 8.

Emotional Release Techniques

Many of us juggling retirement planning, aging parent care, and adult children’s needs find ourselves emotionally overwhelmed. Learning how to be released from emotional burdens requires specific strategies:

1. Journaling: Spend 15 minutes each morning writing without censorship. Author Natalie Goldberg notes, “Writing is the act of burning through the fog in your mind.”

2. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): This tapping practice helps release stored emotions. Focus on one issue while tapping specific meridian points.

3. Regular Emotional Check-ins: Schedule weekly “release sessions” where you deliberately examine and release any resentments, worries, or unprocessed emotions.

Mental Decluttering for Enhanced Release

The mental load we carry often prevents us from being released into our authentic selves. Consider these approaches:

1. Digital Detox: Implement regular technology-free periods. One woman in our over-50 book club reported feeling “mentally lighter” after deleting social media apps from her phone.

2. Priority Reassessment: List all current commitments and rate them on a scale of 1-10 for joy versus obligation. Release those scoring low on joy and high on obligation.

3. Meditation: Start with 5 minutes daily, gradually increasing to 20 minutes. Focus on the sensation of release with each exhale.

Social Aspects of Being Released

Our social circles often need reassessment as we age. Learning to be more released in relationships involves:

1. Boundary Setting: Practice saying “no” without explanation. As Maya Angelou wisely said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

2. Relationship Audit: Evaluate which relationships energize versus drain you. Give yourself permission to release toxic or outdated connections.

3. Community Building: Seek out women who understand and support your journey toward release. Join groups focused on personal growth and transformation.

Creating Daily Release Rituals

Establishing daily practices helps maintain a state of release:

1. Morning Release Routine: Start each day with 10 minutes of stretching and intention-setting for what you’ll release today.

2. Midday Check-in: Take a 5-minute break to scan your body and mind for tension, consciously releasing what you find.

3. Evening Release Practice: Before bed, write down three things you’re releasing from the day.

Moving Forward with Your Release Practice

Remember that learning how to be released is a journey, not a destination. Start small, perhaps with one area of your life, and gradually expand your practice. As one woman in our meditation group shared, “It took me fifty years to accumulate all this tension – I’m giving myself grace as I learn to release it.”

Track your progress in a release journal, noting changes in your energy levels, relationships, and overall well-being. Celebrate small victories and be patient with the process.

Most importantly, remember that being released isn’t about achieving perfection – it’s about creating space for joy, growth, and authentic living in our fifth decade and beyond. As we continue this journey together, let’s support each other in releasing what no longer serves us and embracing the freedom that comes with conscious release.

Conclusion

The journey of how to be released opens up new possibilities for women over 50. By implementing these strategies consistently and with self-compassion, we can create lives that feel more spacious, authentic, and aligned with our current values and desires. Remember, it’s never too late to begin the practice of release – in fact, our wisdom years might just be the perfect time to start.