Sometimes the biggest step toward what God has next for you is deciding what you’re finally ready to let go of.

As we move into the final quarter of 2026, I’ve been thinking about what’s working, what isn’t, and what might need to be eliminated in order to make room for expansion. Because expansion doesn’t always mean adding more clients, more content, more opportunities, or more responsibilities. Sometimes, it requires subtraction first.

In this episode, we’re talking about the things we may have outgrown but are still carrying—old habits, obligations, relationships, business models, roles, or even identities. I’ll share why elimination isn’t necessarily failure; sometimes, it’s obedience.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why expansion often requires subtraction before addition
• How to recognize what is draining your energy or no longer producing fruit
• The difference between what is familiar and what is actually fruitful
• Why something God blessed in one season may not be something He’s asking you to carry into the next
• How to make room for the calling God is expanding you into
• Why trusting God sometimes means stepping into the uncomfortable space between what you’re releasing and what comes next

And because you don’t need to carry everything into your next season, I want to encourage you to prayerfully ask: What needs to go?

Ready to expand your message? Check out my free guides and resources: https://melissaleahughes.com/free-guides

Get Your Copy of Expansion Syndrome: https://melissaleahughes.com/expansionsyndrome

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Meet Jade Smith

Jade Smith is a business owner, mom, homeschooler, worshiper, and operations expert who helps business-owner moms build the support they need to create a more sustainable lifestyle. In this episode’s Firebrand Rapid Fire segment, Jade shares about her journey through the fire, learning to trust God, and discovering how God uses our stories and experiences to reveal our calling.

Connect with Jade:

• Laughing Over Tomorrow Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3z3KJksARULLK8E00pi8em?si=9eef395ea9d14c65
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laughingovertomorrow/

Check out the Firebrand book here: https://fitinfaithmedia.com/firebrand

Want to hear more from Jade? Check out the Rapid Fire segment and hear why she says, “The fire is a good place to be.”