There are a lot of ideas, old wisdom, and commentary out there about the importance of being able to let go. When we hear this, we tend to think about letting go of bad things...grudges (I am Italian and Scottish, this this has some real meaning for folks in my clan), anger, perhaps past relationships or bad habits. What I am thinking about today, however, is the art of letting go of things that may be blocking our way to a better, happier, or more joyful life. Maybe it requires a leap of faith or letting go of performance or achievement expectations. Maybe it would require you to let go of your idea of who you thought you were or might be. If you are not happy where you are right now in your life, rather than adding more and more (we naturally think about more things, more money and, of course, more TIME), maybe we can be better served by letting go of some things that don't fit us or that no longer apply.
I know. Right about know you are thinking, "What is this woman talking about? How does letting go make me happier?" But stop for a moment and consider this: if you suddenly had that "more time" that you always wanted, what would you do with it? Was that an easy question? If it was, then you should probably be DOING that thing that immediately came to your consciousness when asked what you would do with more time. That thing is likely the thing that would bring you greater happiness, joy and fulfillment.
So how do you get the "more time" to do your thing? You need to let go of other stuff. You may not need to let go of activities, commitments or even your latest promotion. It might be as simple as adjusting your expectations and your goals if they are not aligned with your thing.
For example, let's say your thing is to spend more time with your kids, doing fun stuff like camping and being outdoors. Now let's say you are spending about 2 hours a day commuting to your job. You could better use those 2 hours with your kids. So now you have a goal of finding a vocation, a job or a business that reduces your commute. Maybe this requires you to let go of your goal of becoming VP in your current company. Maybe this requires you to recognize that your family might prefer time with you over more stuff that the cash from a promotion would provide. Maybe this requires you to let go of a demanding and not-so-fulfilling career for something that is more enjoyable to you and your family.
I am not recommending that you put yourself or your loved ones in the poor house. I am not suggesting that you take up surfing and live on the beach and have no concern for your financial health. I am suggesting that you consider how much wealth you need to be comfortable and consider if your efforts to gain more to "provide" for your family are really paying off. Are you able to let go of your expectations for the $50,000 car, the boat and the 5 BR home in an upscale community to chose a less expensive lifestyle and a vocation that allows you the time to do your thing?
This isn't easy. You probably grew up with expectations to be "the best" to earn the most and to measure your success by the size of your home and your portfolio. But what if it were exactly these expectations that are getting in the way of your real joy and satisfaction in life? What if all that you have been told is not the secret to happiness but, rather, the ticket to the ER? Deciding what you should let go of and actively making that choice requires careful consideration and discussion with others important in your life. But once you are clear on what you need to do, open your hands and let go. You might be amazed at how sweet your life can be when you do.