Can you identify?
You are working hard; it is nearly the end of the day and you are rushing to finish a project, meet a deadline or just want to clear the “stuff” off your desk for the day. Your stomach is turning and your jaw is tight. Ultimately, you end up working an extra hour or even two and leave the office feeling drained and uptight. When you get home, you collapse in front of the tv for the night only to wake up the next day and repeat the process again.
OR
You are in between jobs and are conducting a job search and hour after hour you sit in front of your computer scanning jobboards and company profiles trying to generate a job lead. You are frustrated and feeling hopeless then you realize that you haven’t eaten lunch and now it is 3 o’clock and you even showered yet!
OR
You are at home with your young children. You wake up early, throw on your comfy clothes and dive into the busy routine of maintaining the house, cooking, cleaning, driving, listening, solving, responding… you move quickly from one task to another. You are efficient with a capital E! All of a sudden it is 10pm and you are in bed drifting in and out of sleep with the tv on.
If you can identify and want change, what can you do?
We all know the many positive ways to create balance in life and they will help – exercise, healthy diet, meditation, positive relationships, hobbies, volunteering… yet still we continue to search for something else.
There are many things we say to ourselves directly or that subconsciously drive our behaviour during the day like:
- If I don’t do it, who will?
- I need to get it done now, it will only take five minutes…
- I want to do it the right way the first time.
- I have to work hard or it won’t get finished or done properly.
If we believe that we “have to”, “need to” or “want to”… at some level, we believe we have to “make things happen”, that we have to “control” something that is going on in our lives rather than letting it unfold naturally. Learning to “LET GO” can be a complex and challenging process but the first step in any transition process is gaining awareness.
So step away from your work, your routine, listen and be aware of your thoughts and try to let go a little at a time.
Things will get done, you will work again, the house/business will not fall apart and you will be much more relaxed and able to enjoy your life!
For specific techniques to letting go to apply in your personal situation contact me anytime!
Enjoy your day!
Kelly McIntyre M.Sc.
