Let Go
It’s Time for us to Let Go of Shame, Expectation and our Addiction to Social Media
Hugh Van Cuylenburg
Let Go invites us into a deeply honest conversation about emotional wellbeing in the midst of everyday pressures, especially in the wake of recent global challenges. Hugh Van Cuylenburg, founder of The Resilience Project and seasoned educator, turns the lens inward, sharing moments when even those who teach resilience must learn it again themselves.
This book is organised around six emotional “weights” we carry, such as shame, perfectionism, fear and social comparison, offering exercises that are simple, grounded and therefore, doable. Practices like gratitude reflection, reframing setbacks as learning, and building connection routines feel designed for staffroom conversations or team professional learning sessions.
Rather than delivering academic jargon, the writing is warm and conversational. Van Cuylenburg shares personal stories including times when his wellbeing work hit a wall, making vulnerability a strength rather than a loophole. His voice is humble and inviting, encouraging reflection rather than prescribing quick fixes.
This is a book you can pick up and reread in sections. One morning you might try a journalling prompt on letting go of unhelpful comparison. The next you may discuss with your team how perfectionism shows up in your school. The exercises are accessible, practical and built around reflection more than resolution.
For educational leaders and colleagues in schools, Let Go offers a space to explore what’s beneath how we show up for staff wellbeing and professional culture alike. It challenges us to acknowledge the emotional weight we carry and to let go of what no longer serves, in service of empathy, connection and ease.
In staff‑room terms: this book doesn’t preach. It cares. It doesn’t promise a cure, but it does open the door to something more grounded and resilient. Let Go is a subtle invitation to reflect, release and reconnect - with ourselves and others.
