Three Things You Must Let Go
A man is hanging by a branch above a deep ravine. He looks down; then he looks up and yells, “Help! Help! Is anyone up there?”
“I’m here,” the reply comes.
“Can you help me?” the man calls.
The voice replies, “Yes, I can help you. Let go of the branch.”
After a desperate pause, the man cries, “Is anyone else up there?”
When it comes time to let go, most prefer hanging on.
A former life:
Hanging on is exhausting and frustrating. Strategies that aren’t working won’t magically start working if you just hang on longer. Let go.
You need a former life filled with attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors you have let go. If you don’t have a former life, you’re exhausted and frustrated.
Everyone who grows has a former life.
Every leap forward includes letting go.
You can’t move forward until you let go of what holds you back.
Hanging on delays growth and progress.
Where nothing goes away everything stays the same.
How do you complete this sentence? “In my former life I _________.”
Three things you must let go:
- Waiting for the perfect moment. The ‘perfect moment’ is procrastination’s delight.
- Thinking you’re always right. A wise person will suggest you try a new strategy. It will feel wrong. Try it anyway. Wisdom feels wrong to fools.
- Focusing on can’t. People who focus on what can’t be done are cowards, unless they come up with something they CAN DO.
Before you let go:
Find a reason to let go.
Choose an aspirational future before you let go of something in the present.
A forward-facing life takes you further than circling the present or hanging on to the past.
Choose a goal that pulls you forward. Ask yourself, “What do I need to let go to move toward this goal?”
What should you hang on to?
What might people need to let go in order to thrive?
This helps, I needed to hear “Everyone who grows has a former life.” Thanks for that.
People hang on because the alternative is unattractive, or even frightening.
“Let go of the branch” is fine if it includes “We’ll catch you”. If you just drop to the bottom of the ravine, break every bone in your body and die, you’ve solved the problem of being stuck, but not in a good way.
Wow…the universe, in your post, is speaking to me! Thank you for the spot-on and timely post!
I have tried to let go of the past, but it seems like I have not totally let go of it. I know what I need to do to move forward and try. So how do you completely let go to fully succeed to move forward?
Bailey, Someone one told me, “You need to forgive others and yourself to let go of the past.” Forgiveness is the key, he told me. If you can’t forgive others & yourself–your emotions keep you locked into the past.
Jenny, I will have to try that as well. I think that it is my brain that is getting in the way.
Paul is right on about forgiveness. Figure out your 1-2 lessons from an experience, forgive yourself and others, then push your brain to new thought patterns. I had a very negative boss experience a few years back that deeply impacted me. I made mistakes – as did he. I’ve been working this process and it’s a huge help. I even freely send good wishes to that person and his cronies now. And when I feel the pull to stay in that negative place, I engage with the process again. Feel free to run the process as many times as feels right to you!
Thank you Paul, that is great wisdom!
What a timely post. Just earlier today a friend share this:
Try developing your purpose from your goals will sprout.
Scope around in your area of interest and commit to one thing with a capital C!
To your two questions, I say:
Hang on to my spirit.
Let go of thinking I know where I’m going.
Recently, I quit a job I love, because my supervisor was toxic. Then I finished my doctorate. Now, I’m looking for work in different cities. Not knowing where I’m going, I can still plan the first few steps. So, I sold my house and next week will move my possessions into storage until I find a new job. I’ll be travelling until I land my next job. Friends ask, “Where will you go?” With a smile, I say, “I don’t know.”
To answer your two questions, I say:
Hang on to my spirit.
Let go of thinking I know where I’m going.
Recently, I quit a job I love, because my supervisor was toxic. Then I finished my doctorate. Now, I’m looking for work in different cities. Not knowing where I’m going, I can still plan the first few steps. So, I sold my house and next week will move my possessions into storage until I find a new job. I’ll be travelling until I land my next job. Friends ask, “Where will you go?” With a smile, I say, “I don’t know.”
Your words were such an encouragement to me today! Exactly what I have been telling myself, but said in a much better way. Thank you for your posts, I try to read every one. You are a very positive influence. 🙂