The Power of Choosing: Why Learning Also Means Letting Go

Saying yes to everything often means saying no to yourself. In language learning — and in life — true growth comes from focus, clarity, and balance. Progress often starts with the courage to say no.

There was a time — not so long ago — when I said yes to almost everything.Yes to meaningful projects, to causes I believed in, to commitments that inspired me. But over time, I realized that saying yes to everything sometimes meant saying no to myself.

Days only have twenty-four hours. Eventually, I felt overwhelmed and scattered, unable to give my best to anything. With a little help, I learned to sort things out, set priorities, and say no — without guilt.

It wasn’t easy, and it still isn’t. Balance is not something you find once and for all; it’s something you nurture and adjust, again and again.

A symbolic decision

At one point, I had been preparing for months to take the Italian B1 exam. Everything was ready.But on the day of the exam, my daughter was performing for the first time with an orchestra during the Music Festival. So I made a choice: I cancelled my registration.

That decision postponed my plans by several months — but it also brought peace.I kept learning Italian consistently, at my own pace. And in October 2023, I finally took and passed the C1 exam.

That success felt even sweeter because it was aligned — with my values, my priorities, and the person I want to be.

Learning is also about making space

Learning a language isn’t just about discipline — it’s about alignment. It’s about making space in your life and mind for what truly matters. It’s about saying no to the unnecessary so that your yes is wholehearted.

And you? How much time do you dedicate to your learning every day? What could you let go of to create more room for what really matters?