6 Things I Cut Out of My Life to Be Happier

Hi, I’m Karoline Angeles, and this year, I made a bold, healing, life-changing decision:

I said yes to myself.

Yes to happiness.

Yes to weight loss.

Yes to a new mindset.

Yes to letting go of everything that no longer serves me.

It’s only been a couple of months since I started this journey, but already I’ve seen a powerful shift — not just in how I live, but in how I think. And trust me, that shift didn’t come from trying harder. It came from letting go.

Why I’m Reinventing My Life

Over the past few years, my world was shaken by a major health crisis. That experience brought me to my knees physically, emotionally, spiritually—and forced me to reassess everything.

So I decided to start over. From scratch. Not by changing my environment, but by changing my inner world.

What I discovered? There were toxic thoughts and limiting beliefs that had been living in my mind for years. Quietly shaping the way I saw myself. Silently draining my joy. So I let them go.

Here are the six things I’ve cut out of my life—and how doing so changed everything.

1. Letting Go of Caring What Other People Think

I didn’t think I had this problem. I mean, I’m a plus-size woman living life out loud—don’t you have to stop caring what people think to do that?

Turns out, I cared more than I realized.

When my kids were little, I’d find myself saying things like, “You can’t leave the house like that! People will think I’m a bad mom.” That wasn’t about them—that was about me. I was trying to control people’s perception of me. I was afraid of their judgment.

And it didn’t stop there.

For a long time, I was ashamed of my old van. Instead of being proud that I had something reliable to get my kids where they needed to go, I felt small, embarrassed. But why? That van was part of my abundance. It served me well. Letting go of shame is letting go of the weight of other people’s opinions.

Now I care most about what God thinks of me—and what I think of myself. That’s it.

2. Overcoming Comparison and Jealousy

Comparison is a thief. It will rob you of peace, confidence, and self-worth—and leave you feeling like you’re always falling short.

I realized that jealousy was sneaking into my thoughts way too often—especially as a single mom trying to make ends meet in a wealthy neighborhood. I’d see others with financial stability and think why not me? I’d see other women with flat stomachs and smooth skin and think I’ll never look like that.

But that’s a lie. Because I am not them. And they are not me.

Everyone has their own story. Their own pain. Their own challenges.

I can’t compare my middle to someone else’s highlight reel. That’s not fair—to them or to me.

So I knocked it off. When I feel comparison creeping in, I redirect my thoughts to gratitude. I remind myself: I am blessed. I am enough. And I’m becoming who I want to be—one beautiful day at a time.

3. Learning to Love My Body Right Now

One of the most powerful things I’ve done recently is a 30-day mirror challenge. Every day, I stood in front of a full-length mirror and looked at my body.

Not my future body. Not the one I wish I had. My body right now.

And I learned to love her.

That big belly? It’s held three babies. Those arms? They’ve comforted crying children. This body has carried me through trauma, joy, exhaustion, and rebirth.

How could I not love her?

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and felt shame, I want you to know this: your body deserves your love. Right now. As it is. Not when it’s smaller. Not when it’s stronger. Now.

4. Being Kinder to Myself

I didn’t even realize how often I blamed myself—for everything.

If someone was upset, I assumed it was my fault. If I made a mistake, I’d beat myself up for hours. I even blamed myself for things that hadn’t happened yet.

And you know what? That’s exhausting.

So I’ve made a conscious decision to give myself grace. To stop performing. To stop trying to be who everyone else needs me to be—and start just being me.

I am done with perfectionism. Done with guilt. Done with the silent self-criticism that used to run constantly in the background of my mind.

Now, I choose kindness. Toward myself, first.

5. Replacing “I Can’t” with “I Can Try”

“I can’t” had become a mantra in my life. I’d say it without even realizing it. I can’t lose weight. I can’t go for a walk. I can’t do that because of my knee.

And sure, I do have some physical limitations—like a torn meniscus—but that doesn’t mean I can’t try. It doesn’t mean I have to give up.

I know women who are heavier than I am who go out and live their lives with joy and movement and confidence. And I realized that I was using my weight—and my pain—as an excuse to not even try.

Not anymore.

Now, I say: I can try. I can start. I can learn. And I will.

6. Saying Goodbye to Negativity

This one was a shocker.

I always thought I was a positive person. People even used to call me “Little Miss Sunshine.” But deep down, I carried a lot of negativity. I expected things to go wrong. I doubted myself. I believed I didn’t deserve good things.

That’s not positivity. That’s survival mode with a smile.

Now, I flip the switch. When a negative thought enters my mind, I stop it in its tracks. I don’t let it rent space in my head. I replace it with truth. With light. With possibility.

I choose joy. I choose hope. I choose me.

The Power of Letting Go: Letting go of these toxic patterns hasn’t just helped me feel better—it’s helped me live better.

This mindset shift has impacted everything:

·       My emotional well-being

·       My spiritual connection

·       My confidence

·       Even my weight loss journey

And I’m just getting started.

So if you’ve been feeling stuck… if you’re tired of the shame, the self-doubt, the comparison, the negativity—I invite you to say YES to yourself.

Let this be the year you choose healing. The year you get honest about the things that are weighing you down—and gently, courageously, start letting them go.

Because you are worth it. And your life can change too.