Letting Go of Almost: What Love Leaves Behind
She came to coaching to talk about her new executive role.
A sharp, strategic leader who had just stepped into the C-suite after years of building, navigating politics, and earning her seat at the table. On paper, she had everything she wanted. A powerful title. A strong team. Influence.
But as we began to explore what it meant to own this new chapter—what it meant to lead with presence, confidence, and clarity—something kept surfacing beneath the surface.
A relationship.
One that had ended a while ago.
Nothing dramatic. Nothing chaotic. Just… unfinished.
It wasn’t the loss of a partner that was holding her back. It was the residue. The emotional echo of a love that had never fully arrived. Someone who offered intimacy in fragments—nicknames and late-night calls, the warmth of affection but never the grounding of commitment. A connection that gave her just enough to hope, and never enough to grow.
She had loved with generosity and strength. She had been emotionally brave. But when she asked for truth, for more, he backed away. And in his retreat, she had slowly started to question the parts of herself that were most powerful—her depth, her clarity, her emotional honesty.
And here’s where the leadership came in.
As we gently named what was left behind in that relationship, she began to see its shadow in other places—on her leadership team, in negotiations, in high-stakes moments where she held back just slightly, waited for permission that never came, softened her truth to maintain harmony.
She was a powerhouse. But a part of her still remembered what it felt like to be “too much.”
Too expressive. Too emotional. Too willing to dive deep.
So she led, but with a layer of guardedness.
Letting go of that relationship wasn’t just about healing her heart—it was about reclaiming her voice. Her full presence. Her unapologetic authority.
Because here’s the truth:
Some relationships leave fingerprints.
But they don’t get to define the masterpiece.
A Coaching Reflection for You:
Where are you still over-functioning or waiting for approval in order to lead fully?
What “almosts” from your past are shaping how you show up today?
What version of you is ready to be released so you can rise with more clarity and conviction?
You are not a story left unread.
You are not a dream paused by someone else’s fear.
You are the fire. You are the heart.
You are the leader who knows when to let go—and when to rise.
Because this time, love…
You’re holding tight to you.
With gratitude and love,
Melisa