What Stephen Colbert Taught Me About Faith and Letting Go of the Good Stuff
- Phyllis Smith
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Sometimes the things we grieve aren’t just the painful losses.
Sometimes we grieve the things that brought us joy.
This week, I found myself surprisingly emotional over the ending of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Through so much of the craziness happening in our country and around the world, Stephen has given me laughter. Perspective. Relief. A way to cope.
And while, of course, we don’t really know how he feels behind the scenes, publicly, he has handled this transition with such grace.
One thing that stands out to me about Stephen Colbert is his faith.
He said something in an interview recently that really stayed with me. He said this ending may actually be “a gift from God.” He talked about how, for the last 2 years, he's been working on something with Peter Jackson about The Lord of the Rings, his favorite movie, and this may finally give him the time he needs to work on it.
He also said, “I’m an actor, not a comedian,” and maybe, for him, this opens another door.
That perspective struck me deeply.
Because even though I feel sad losing those nightly laughs, it reminded me of something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately: the idea of non-clinging. Loosening your grip on not just the bad things that have happened to you, but the good things as well.
I’ve been listening to Michael Singer’s newest book, Wisdom Untethered. I’ve followed Michael Singer for years because he makes spirituality feel tangible and understandable to me.
He talks often about how suffering comes when we cling — not only to wounds and painful experiences, but also to the things that felt really good. When we desperately try to hold onto something beautiful after it has passed, we suffer because we want it back exactly as it was.
And life doesn’t work that way.
I think about my mom after my dad died in 2018. They had a love story like you wouldn’t believe.
Honestly, I thought she would curl up in grief and never recover. But six months later, she let go of the home in Long Island she lived in for nearly 60 years and moved to Texas to be closer to me.
She left behind furniture, belongings, memories… even old photographs she couldn’t keep.
She let go.
Not because she didn’t grieve.
She did.
She still does.
Even writing this brings tears to my eyes as I think of them together - laughing, loving, enjoying every moment together.
But she somehow understood that letting go of one beautiful chapter didn’t mean life was over.
She had faith that something meaningful could still emerge. That there was still love to give and receive. Still joy to experience. Still new connections ahead of her.
And there was.
My mom used to laugh and say she was “too old to make new friends.” Yet now, at her senior living community, she has become beloved by everyone there. She continues to create meaningful friendships and connections everywhere she goes.
And recently, I’ve noticed the same happening in my own life.
New friendships. Deeper friendships. Discovering neighbors I never knew. Unexpected connections are appearing where I never would have imagined them.
That’s the thing about life.
When we cling too tightly to what was, we close ourselves off to what could be.
We are allowed to grieve what we lose. We are allowed to miss what filled us with laughter, comfort, joy, familiarity, or love.
But somewhere within that grief, there also has to be faith.
Faith that life is not finished with us yet.
Faith that goodness can still arrive in new forms.
Faith that there is always more unfolding.
Maybe not the exact same experience. But more.
More connection.More meaning.More laughter.More love.More life.
As long as we remain open.
As long as we trust enough to loosen our grip.
Not pretending loss doesn’t hurt.
But trusting that even through endings, life continues to unfold in meaningful ways.
Stephen ended his last show by singing along with Paul McCartney and his Late Show band while they all sang the Beatles song, "You Say Good-bye, and I Say Hello."
Enough said.
What happens to us throughout our lives is all part of our human experience. Good and bad things happen along the way.
Let's loosen our grip, stop clinging, and say, "Hello" to what's next.
Phyllis Smith is the Founder & CEO of Rejuvecise. She is a Yoga Instructor, Serenity Coach, and S.E.L.F Leadership Guide in the Dallas, Texas area. She is also the creator of the S.E.L.F. Empowerment framework, which develops SELF Leadership through the principles of Stability (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual), Environment, Love (self-compassion), and Friendship. Her mission is to empower people to cultivate clarity, stability, and self-leadership through mind-body practices for a better world. Click HERE to learn more about the variety of services offered and/or contact Phyllis at Phyllis@Rejuvecise.com for a FREE 30-minute discovery call today. (Services offered both in-person and online)
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