Last year, I let go of more than five persons, including my best friend and some family members. It wasn't easy, I was afraid and frightened for wanting to move on, but I knew I was making the right decisions. Relief was the main only emotion I felt once I did. I felt lighter and happier each and every time.
I'm a forwarding moving person, I'm always looking to build and expand myself in positive ways. I've made many mistakes in life, including building relationships with people during my down cycles only to struggle with them once I start dusting myself off and moving into the positive. My experiences last year taught me that I have to be very careful how, when, and on what issues I form bonds with others. This is absolutely crucial. Now I watch myself and see what I have in common with others and what we talk about the most. If it isn't positive, I distant myself from them and then work on the issue in myself.
It is lonelier, absolutely. But I am happier on a day-to-day basis. I don't feel that nagging sense that I'm disappointing someone because I don't believe in or support their beliefs or issues anymore. I can breathe easier now. The loneliest is only temporary, I've made space for more like-minded and positive people to come into my life. I'm looking forward to meeting them.
Note: I don't view the people who I've let go of as bad people. They aren't. They wouldn't have been my friends/comrades otherwise. With some I didn't say anything, the "moving on" just naturally occured, but with others I had to say/do something.