12 Absolutely Trivial Things You Need to Let Go

Details that don’t matter. Grudges about slights we barely remember. Minor mistakes. 

Obsessing over these trivial things may be impacting your happiness. 

What’s Trivial, Though?

We all have different ideas of what’s trivial versus what really matters, which makes defining “trivial things” nearly impossible. 

We’re still going to try, though 😉. 

Top Trivial Things You Should Probably Let Go

Deciding what’s trivial is all about knowing when to let something go and when to speak up.

In general, if you won’t care in five years, you probably shouldn’t care today, and we’re bringing you some great examples. 

But of course, life is far more nuanced than a general rule, as you’ll see. 

That Petty Fight

Even the best relationships have fights. 

Sometimes we get too wrapped up in ourselves and can’t see the other person’s perspective, or we’ve had a bad day. 

If your relationship is good overall, stop holding onto the pain of a petty fight you won’t even remember six months from now. 

Obviously, not all petty fights are trivial things, so we have to bring out our first giant asterisk right up front. 

When that petty fight is the same (or similar) petty fight you ALWAYS have, you shouldn’t let it go, as it highlights a potential problem that needs to be addressed. 

Comments from Strangers

Why do we let people we don’t even know get to us?

Are unwanted and unprovoked comments rude? Absolutely. Should you care? Not at all. 

Most of the time, the comment wasn’t even about you in the first place. Some folks thrive on getting angry reactions from others. 

Don’t give them pleasure. Let it go and move on with your day. 

Putting Your Foot in Your Mouth

Have you ever said something stupid then dwelled on it for days (weeks, months)? 

I have. But I’ve learned to let it go. 

When you say something that unintentionally offends someone else, apologize and move on. Unless you habitually say rude things (in which case, you’ll have to do some hard work to change your behavior), nobody will remember in five years. 

So stop obsessing over it. 

A Cancelled Meet Up

It’s frustrating when people flake, but will you remember that your friend had a last-minute emergency and bailed on an event in five years?

Not unless they make a habit of it. 

Give your friends grace when things pop up. I’m sure you’ve cancelled plans before too. Life happens. 

A Botched Interview

Sometimes things aren’t meant to be. We can ace an interview and still not get a job. 

We can also bomb the interview so badly that we’re embarrassed to ever even apply for that company again. 

Either way, don’t dwell on it. 

Instead, figure out where you went wrong and improve your skills for next time. There will always be more opportunities. 

Five years from now, you’ll barely remember this one failed interview. 

A Break-Up

I’ve had my share of awful breakups, but you know what? They were always for the best. 

I know a breakup isn’t a trivial thing when you’re neck-deep in it. They hurt in the moment. Sometimes you feel like your entire world is falling apart. Spend the time you need listening to breakup songs, talking with your friends, and even wallowing a little bit. 

But when you look back in two, three, or five years, you’ll see how much better your life is – and a lot of that is probably because you broke up. 

Wedding Details

I get that you want your wedding to be perfect, but what does that really mean?

Do the napkins, place settings, and flowers really matter that much?

In five years, will you remember the exact shade of the tablecloth, or will you remember the delicious food, epic dancing, and all the friends and family members who came out to share your special day?

Think about it and let go of the trivial things in wedding planning that don’t impact the event. 

A Mistake at Work

Forgetting to send that email or making a typo on that last report isn’t the end of the world. 

The boss may ride you for a day, but he’ll forget by next month, so you should stop dwelling on it. 

And I do understand how hard it is to let these trivial things go. I’ve obsessed for weeks over a typo. It took a lot of deep breathing and meditation for me to release myself from the pressure of being perfect at work, but I’m actually a better person because of it. 

Being Wrong

Being wrong, especially about something inconsequential, is such a trivial thing, but far too many of us can’t accept it. 

We get angry, refuse to accept new information that challenges our viewpoint, argue, and even end relationships over it. 

Why?

Who cares if you didn’t remember what movie that actress was in, if you forgot that historical fact, or if you aren’t the expert in whatever subject?

Drop your ego and let it go. 

The Latest Fashion

What’s in today will be out tomorrow, so it doesn’t matter if you miss it. 

Instead, focus on what you like and cultivate a style that fits your unique personality. 

You’ll be timeless. 

What People Think

It won’t matter in five years that the cute guy at the counter thinks you’re weird or that the old lady judged you on the subway. 

But it’s not just strangers. Sometimes our friends and families have strong opinions about how we live our lives. 

I’m not going to tell you to ignore them. I think you should listen – at first. They might bring up something you haven’t considered or help you see things from a new perspective. Their advice might help you. 

However, even people with our best interests at heart can’t know us the way we know ourselves. They aren’t living your life, so stop worrying about what they think and be yourself. 

What Others Do

Are you one of those busybodies obsessed with how other people live?

Stop it. It probably won’t matter to you next week; it definitely won’t matter in five years!

Of course, if you’re worried that someone you love is making a mistake, you should absolutely speak up. Tell them what you think, help them find another path, and be there for them should their plan fail. 

But don’t dwell on it unless it directly impacts you. At the end of the day, what other people do is a pretty trivial thing in your own life. 

You’ll Let Go When You’re Older

The best part of growing up is learning to let go of the trivial things that don’t matter. 

In fact, we learn to let a lot go as we age, and usually we’re happier for it. When we’re younger, a lot of stuff seems way more important than it really is. 

Letting Go Helps You Savor Each Moment

How can you enjoy your life when you’re obsessing about trivial matters? 

When you let go, you can be more present in each and every moment. So what are you waiting for?

Stop fretting about the things that don’t matter, and focus your attention on the things that do – like what you are doing right now. 

Let it go and enjoy your life more.