🍄 The Let Them Theory
Hi Reader,
I was walking past Waterstones the other day when I spotted a book in the window called The Let Them Theory. The title caught my attention.
It reminded me of a psychedelic journey I had some years ago, one that gave me a message so clear I couldn’t ignore it.
The message was:
It’s time to stop being around this person.
It was as clear as day, a 'directive' from the mushroom (and/or my wisest self), as we sometimes receive them.
Simply put, the person was starting to cost me peace. There wasn’t anger or other ill will that I had towards them. In fact, I wished them the best. Their energy just wasn't what I wanted to be around, and my time and company is precious.
See, this person could be intense. Very passionate, very verbal.
At times, they felt aggressive in how they spoke.
So while I didn’t hate them or want to create drama, I knew I couldn’t keep being around that energy.
The complicated part was that we had mutual friends. Overlapping circles. Shared spaces.
Which meant that choosing distance was kinda awkward, and I was worried about how they'd react when I told them, that it would likely bring reaction.
But around that time, I was doing a course, and one of the lessons landed so deeply for me and was perfect for my situation:
Let people have their reactions.
Let them feel whatever they feel.
If they misunderstand you, let them.
If they are sad, let them.
If they judge you, let them.
If they’re angry that you drew a boundary, let them.
You don’t need to explain, justify, or manage their feelings.
See, it’s not your job to manage other people’s perceptions.
It's not your job to control or pre-empt their response.
Your job is to speak your truth and stay in integrity.
Your real work is not convincing others, it’s living in your own truth.
So, I got the distance from the person, and although I was nervous about it, it was fine.
For me, that was the Let Them Theory in practice.
It’s not about being passive.
It’s not about disconnecting or being cold.
It’s about trust.
Trusting your gut.
Trusting others to have their own process.
Trusting that the world doesn’t fall apart when you stop managing it.
Psychedelics can teach us that too.
How to release control.
How to let things unfold.
How to stop performing for everyone else’s comfort.
You don’t need to fix them.
You don’t need to be “the good guy” in someone else’s story.
You just need to speak your truth—and hold it with care.
Let them think what they think.
Let them say what they say.
Let them feel what they feel.
And let yourself keep going.
That little phrase—Let Them—goes further than it seems. Whether it’s creative risks, tricky relatives, or online weirdness… letting go of control can be the most liberating move we make.
Is there somewhere in your life you’re still shaping yourself around someone else’s reaction?
Something you’ve been holding back—because of how it might land?
What would open up if you stopped managing… and just let them?
Whatever came up reading this—big or small—I’d love to hear. Hit reply. Always love to hear from you.
🎵Psychedelic Supplements
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❤️ Love and mettā,
John
John Robertson
Psychedelic Facilitator & Educator
Maps of the Mind
Named Webdelics' Top 100 Psychedelic Thought Leaders and Content Creators 2025
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