What Are You Still Holding On To?
In my yoga class this morning the instructor made the comment, “Notice where you are still holding on and let go.” How apt those words are for life. At some time or another we each find ourselves clinging to something that no longer serves us…and maybe never did. It might be a behavior, or a belief, or a worldview.
Take, for example, the senior executive who receives accolades for her work yet still believes that she’s not good enough. That wonderful concept of the imposter syndrome where she awaits the day that she’ll be “found out.” How is this behavior not serving her? She has become a workaholic, afraid that by not being constantly dialed in to whatever is happening and being on top of everything, she’ll miss something. And, by missing something, the organization will deem her unworthy of her role. Consequently, her relationships and her health have begun to suffer.
Or, the middle manager who, through family, and schooling, and activities, is hypercompetitive. Only, now what’s happening is that he is being seen as contentious by his peers. In meetings, he works to prove that his answer is the best one, or at least to find the flaws in the perspectives of his peers. They find it easier to work around him than with him. As a result, his career trajectory has stalled and his performance is no longer getting him the recognition he’s been accustomed to.
It takes self-reflection and being open to constructive feedback to identify those areas that we are still holding on to. And, it takes curiosity and a bit of courage to be willing to imagine another way of being. In other words, by letting go of what doesn’t serve you, you are making room for what might serve you better. Lastly, it takes patience, fortitude, and self-compassion to replace old patterns with new ones. Like most things we attempt, we’re not going to get it right the first, or second, or fiftieth time, but we keep trying and we recognize and appreciate our progress along the way.
So, I’ll invite you to notice where you are still holding on and let go.
I’d be honored if you shared your stories of letting go and what that’s created space for in your life.
