When one door closes, another opens. It’s a classic message that you’ve likely heard many times throughout your life. The thought that one door (relationship, job, etc.) is a stepping stone to a bigger, better and possibly life-changing opportunity is inspiring.

Following the mindset that everything happens for a reason, we can see how various experiences teach us lessons that serve us well throughout our lives. For example, you likely learned more about your inner strength and resilience from your recent breakup than you would’ve if it hadn’t happened. Although it might not have been a pleasant experience at the time, you moved on to the next relationship (or door, if you will) stronger and of course, wiser. But in order to take advantage of that new opportunity and have the bigger, better door revealed to you, you must do one thing—release the doorknob.

As humans, we are programmed to think that we can handle anything. We don’t often ask for help or say “no” because we are able to take on so much ourselves. But in filling our lists to the brim, we tend to grip tightly to details of a situation. In controlling that which is in our grasp, we lose sight of the bigger picture.

Letting go takes a lot of faith. But a deep-rooted belief that everything happens for a reason allows us to release that doorknob, and understand that whatever is behind the door is there for a reason. It is something we need to experience, so that we can learn, change, and grow into the people we are ultimately meant to become.