I've just finished reading Fredmund Malik's book on effective management: "Managing, Performing, Living. Effective Management for a New Era." He has a lot of wise things to say. Towards the end, he focuses on what he calls "Systematic Abandonment" - basically, the art of letting go, clearing out and getting rid of deadwood. What I quote here, he writes in italics so to emphasize his point:
"What should I stop doing - because it has outlived its use, because I have outgrown it, because I want to develop in another direction, because there are other and better methods, because there is something more important to do, because I am older and must set other priorities, and so on?"
This resonated particularly last Saturday, because one participant on the Springboard programme talked about how she wanted to stop doing something. She was nervous about it, she would have to step out of her comfort zone. On the other hand, she recognised how the particular activity was costing her too much energy. Following the SB philosophy, by setting a deadline, she can achieve this goal and give up the activity which has outlived its use, which she has outgrown now that she wants to develop in another direction because she is older and has other priorities.
See. There are signs and messages out there for us, if we're open to them!
Wishing you great success with your new found freedom once you've off-loaded that which is holding you back, Lisa!
