When was the last time you quit something? I’m not talking about ‘good quitting’ like, quitting smoking or cutting out late night snacks, I’m talking about saying ‘no more’ to a project or activity that you don’t really need to be involved with. I’m talking about ‘strategic quitting’.
Strategic quitting means saying ‘no’ or ‘no more’ to something that’s not serving you, not serving its original intention or not moving you forward towards your life’s purpose. It means letting go of all the reasons why we can’t say ‘no’, like wanting to please others or be liked, and being in integrity with yourself. It’s a risk, but it can have a big payoff.
Just as my wife , writes about de-cluttering space and freeing up room and energy by having less ‘stuff’, strategic quitting means letting go of things you think you have to do for things you want to do. It means acting less from compliance (I have to do it) and more from commitment (it’s what’s right to do). It means shedding ‘should’ items and adding more ‘I get to’.
Strategic quitting does NOT mean saying no to responsibility or discipline, it is a sophisticated tool that must be filtered through the tools of awareness and self-knowledge. Knowing what and when to quit could involve talking to the coaches in your life; by that I don’t just mean those of us who are professionals at it, I’m talking about those people in your life who consistently call out the best in you. You know who they are.
If you’re not sure if there’s something you need to quit then try these simple tests:
- Is there something on your calendar that you really dread doing?
- Is there something that you are doing because you feel you HAVE to do or you’d be letting someone else down?
- Are the things on your list in line with those aspects of you that are energizing and growth-based?
- Are you saying ‘yes’ when you know in your heart you want to say ‘no’?
- Are you drained at the end of each day with no sense of accomplishment?
If the answers to any of these considerations leave you unsure, then you can talk to those coaches in your life or call on someone like me, but the longer you delay taking this on, the more you risk losing track of the authentic you, the real you. Not only do you deserve to experience yourself that way, but the people in your life, your spouse, children, siblings, all deserve to know the ‘real’ you, too.
If you’d like to discuss this or hear more, contact me at James@JMlynchtraining.com or add your comments below.
