As we move through the experience of letting go this month, we will want to know how this is good for our health. I know that nurses love the background, the data, and the statistics of it all. So today I want to speak to how and why letting go is good for our total well-being.

Let’s get right to some data. Researchers from Concordia University and McGill University published their work in the Journal of Psycho-Oncology. They found that among 176 breast cancer survivors, letting go of unrealistic goals and making new, achievable ones is linked with a higher quality of life and an increase in physical activity.

Another study, published in the Journal Science suggested that letting go of regrets is mentally healthy. They reported that actually letting go of regret and not ruminating on it may be the more emotionally healthy choice.

Letting go of resentments, grudges or unhealthy thoughts, feelings and beliefs can lead to many physical and emotional benefits. These include: healthier relationships, greater spiritual and psychological well-being, less anxiety, stress and hostility, lower blood pressure, fewer symptoms of depression, and lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse.

Let me share with you two hypothetical examples to illustrate the health benefits of letting go:

• A nurse works on a busy med-surg floor. She is the discharge planner for the day. She got to work early and coordinated everything ahead of time so that things flowed smoothly. However after patient rounds the physician team approached her and let her know that two discharges were cancelled and that one that wasn’t going to happen until next week was taking place today. She was charged with coordinating the staff and collaborating with social work to find sub-acute rehab for the patient in just two hours notice. This nurse was frustrated. No she was furious. “How can this happen? I had everything all set up? This isn’t how I planned it.” She chased after the team and started to argue with the resident in the hallway. Then she went into the break room and started barking orders at the support staff. Finally she got on the phone with the emergency department and rudely dismissed the charge nurse who was trying to send up an admission. She was miserable. And later she paid for her actions. Her manager got wind of her behavior and called her into her office to find out what the heck was going on.
• A nurse works at a busy wellness center. She had been planning an open-house event for two months time. She had reached out to the local media and had press coverage for her event. However, her marking department had not gotten her the fliers for the event. She hadn’t had time to promote it. No one knew about the big night. So because of this- no one had RSVP’ed. How could she hold the event and have all of these people come out and cover it if no one was going to be there? Her boss came to talk to her and asked her what she had thought. He expressed his concern about holding the event and encouraged her to safely cancel. She agreed and said, “Well this happened for a reason. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. Let’s just let this event go and see what we can do to plan for the next one. I’ll call the media.” Her boss was stunned and his jaw dropped to the floor. Where was the stressed out, high-strung nurse he had known before?

Holding onto things causes stress, tension and pain. It can make our blood pressure rise and our head ache. Forcing things, trying to control situations or being unable to let go can make us tired, strained and sick. Which nurse would you prefer to be in the above scenario? How can letting go help your health?

What about you? Have you had an experience where letting go helped? Where it hurt? How can letting go be an asset to your health? In what ways do you think letting go can help your well-being?