hanging on vs letting go

Matthew 16 

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, 

“If any of you wants to be my follower, 

you must give up your selfish ambition 

& your own way, 

take up your cross, 

and follow me. 

25 If you try to hang on to your life, 

you will lose it. 

But if you give up your life for my sake, 

you will save it. 

26 And what do you benefit 

if you gain the whole world 

but lose your own soul? 

Is anything worth more than your soul? 

27 For the Son of Man will come 

with his angels in the glory of his Father 

and will judge all people according to their deeds.