I hope you’re well today. I want to share a story — a proverb — that’s been tugging at my thoughts. It reminds me how often we carry heavy burdens long after we should have set them down. And I believe this is especially relevant to anyone building a coaching franchise — where clarity, focus and letting go are essential.
**The River, the Rule, the Choice**
Two monks were travelling. They followed a strict rule: under no circumstances were they to touch a woman.
One day, they arrived at a swollen river. A woman pleaded: she needed to cross, but the current was dangerous. One monk broke the rule, lifted her onto his back, and carried her across safely. Then he set her down and they continued their journey.
A couple of days later, the other monk—still stewing inside—finally confronted him: “How could you break our sacred rule? You carried that woman across the water two days ago!”
The first monk replied quietly, “Yes, I carried her two days ago — but you’re still carrying her.”
**The Weight We Carry (Long After the Fact)**
That simple exchange haunts me. It shows how easy it is to continue to carry things that are no longer our problem — to replay moments, guilt, resentment, doubts — long after the river has been crossed.
How many of us, in building a coaching franchise, still carry past mistakes, half‑finished relationships, unrealistic expectations, or “should have done better” narratives? How many burdens that once made sense have become a permanent clog in our momentum?
Research suggests that rumination — repeatedly thinking about negative events — is strongly correlated with depression, anxiety, and reduced performance. Letting go isn’t just emotionally freeing; it’s a productivity imperative when you want to scale your business.
**Pause. Choose: Carry or Release.**
Ask yourself: What’s in your backpack from two days ago — or two years ago — that’s weighing you down today?
Is it a failed coaching session? A partner’s criticism? A moment when you didn’t speak up? A decision you regret? These things live in our minds far longer than they need to.
As you grow a coaching franchise, the more weight you carry that isn’t yours to carry, the more you limit your clarity, your energy, your capacity to move forward.
*You’ve already crossed the river. You don’t need to carry that burden any more.*
**Set Down the Load – Move Freely Forward**
It’s time to put the burden down. The woman is long gone from your path. The rule may have been broken, but the lesson is clear: don’t let your mind replay the scene.
In your role — as leader, coach, franchise founder — carrying unnecessary weight will slow you, cloud your decisions, and drain your joy. You will build more — people, revenue, impact — when your mental space is clear.
Let this story remind you: the strongest leaders don’t carry everything. They choose what deserves their attention, and they release the rest.
If you’re building or scaling a coaching franchise, clarity is non‑negotiable. Peace of mind is non‑negotiable. And letting go is part of the job.
Let this be your reminder today:
You do not need to carry what isn’t yours.
You’ve already crossed that river.
by Gemma Bailey (with the help of Ai)
