Out With the Old, In with the New: Releasing What No Longer Serves You

It’s that time of year again. In between all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we have those quiet moments of slowing down, of looking back, of reflecting on the past twelve months. And as 2025 winds down (thank God!), some of us start to look ahead to New Year’s resolutions. But what if instead of just thinking about what we want to accomplish next year, what if we first decide what to release from this one?

A lot of us, myself included, start decluttering our homes, cleaning out our closets, or donating our old clothes. And while that’s all well and good, what about clearing out some of our emotional clutter? What if we could intentionally let go of some of that baggage we’ve been dragging around the past twelve months so we can go into the next year feeling just a little bit lighter? I don't know about you, but I have a few suitcases I'm definitely ready to leave behind!

The Weight You Don’t Have to Carry into the New Year

If you’re an animal caregiver, shelter worker, vet tech, rescuer, or any other type of advocate, chances are you’ve accumulated more emotional weight this year than you may realize. In addition to the pure chaos that defined 2025, you may have also carried:

• the guilt of animals you couldn’t save

• the pain of compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, grief, or burnout

• the pressure to be more and do more

• the belief that your worth is tied to your work

  
  

These are the kind of emotional burdens that keep us up at night and settle in our bodies, causing everything from fatigue to muscle tension to irritability. Even worse, they fill our minds with lies: “You should’ve done more.” “You’re failing.” “Everyone else can handle this, why can’t you?”

But here’s the truth: Not everything our minds tell us is true and not everything you’ve been carrying needs to be taken into the new year. What are you ready to let go of in 2026?

Letting Go of Guilt

Let’s start with one of the heaviest burdens that so many animal advocates wrestle with: guilt. Nearly every single one of us carries some version of this. For some it may show up in the way you doubt or question yourself. For others it may manifest in the body in the form of headaches or trouble sleeping. And yet for others, guilt may cause them to overwork or struggle with boundaries. Looking back over the year, maybe you felt guilty because you had to make a heartbreaking medical decision, or you had to say “no” to taking on one more foster. While it’s true that these moments are indeed painful, they are not proof of personal failure. Just the opposite actually; they’re proof of your humanity, love, and compassion. I know it's hard, but let's all try to leave some of that guilt behind.

Letting Go of Expectations

Whether it’s our own internal voice or society screaming at us, we’re expected to save every life, to fix every problem, to remain emotionally “strong” no matter what we witness. We expect in return, others to understand, appreciate, or even simply notice the work we do. But when these expectations fall short, we may be left with feelings of guilt, shame, or frustration.

Here’s how unrealistic expectations may show up in animal advocacy:

• Perfectionism: “If I don't do more, an animal will suffer.”

• Unrealistic comparisons: “Other rescuers handle this so much better than I do.”

• Overextension: Saying yes to every request, overcommitting, and burning out.

• Moral pressure: Believing that the outcome of every animal’s life rests squarely on your shoulders.

I know you've heard this before, but you can’t control every person, or every outcome. You can’t heal every animal, prevent every injury, or shield every life from suffering. But you can choose how you show up, how you care, and how you respond to the limitations of a broken system.

Letting go of expectations doesn’t mean lowering your standards or giving up. It means:

• Releasing the belief that your worth is equivalent to your successes in animal welfare.

• Allowing yourself to accept what’s possible and what isn’t.

• Embracing flexibility, resilience, and self-compassion.

• Celebrating effort, intention, and the smallest wins.

While not always easy, letting go of unrealistic expectations can not only help to manage compassion fatigue, but also lead to more sustainable advocacy. And who doesn't want that?

Letting go of Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

We all have them. For some, it’s overworking. For others, it’s shutting down emotionally. For many, it’s pretending you’re fine because “there’s too much to do to fall apart.” As for me, I may or may not have eaten an entire bag of Sour Patch Kids yesterday.

But as we head into the new year, it’s okay to ask yourself:

• What strategies helped me survive, but are no longer serving me?

• What unhealthy coping skill am I ready to replace with something healthier?

• What would it feel like to rest instead of pushing myself?

• What relationships are no longer adding value to my life?

There’s no shame in having unhealthy coping skills. Chances are, somewhere along the line they helped you survive an incredibly painful situation. But if they are no longer serving you, it may be time to let them go.

What Do You Want in the New Year?

Just like when we clean out our closet, when we release old emotional clutter, we create room for something better. This year, what would you like to make more room for? Perhaps setting boundaries to protect your time, energy, and heart? Or maybe you’d like to work on having more compassion for yourself, not just the animals in your care. Or maybe you’re ready to get support and let others help you instead of you always helping others.

Whatever you choose, imagine going into the new year without the weight of over-responsibility, guilt, or unrealistic expectations. Imagine showing up for the animals you love not from a place of depletion, but from a place of renewed passion. Need a little extra support? Check out my 9-week Compassion Fatigue Skills and Support Circle here!

-Jen Blough