Learning how to let go…

written by john c ashworth

NBC 15 news anchor Leigh Mills asked me a simple question following Friday's fitness segment, "So how's it going.?"

It seems funny to even decide to write about it today, except that when she asked me I realized that it had been a little while since a closer friend or colleague - someone I felt comfortable opening up to a little more - asked me this question. So I dove in.

"I'm re-inventing myself." I said. "Completely."

I read somewhere recently that in order to find your dreams and your gifts, and all of the things you are truly passionate about that though you might have to dig a little if you've been ignoring them, you might also find them on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Because it is on those precious mornings that you often find yourself doing what you love most.

I have to say that this hit me as profound and helped me a great deal. Because here I am, right now, on a Sunday morning with the birds racket outside my windows, the cool breezes of early summer, and all of the passion I have swirling in the living room air. Writing, creating my muse, and thinking thoughtfully and carefully about which steps to take next in this process of re-inventing myself, I feel free to do and be almost anything I want.

This is not an easy job, of course, and often wrought with fear, anxiety, frustration, and questions about whether or not the next step I've decided to take is the right one. And then I realized that this is the point of re-inventing yourself, and of life itself. No one has the answers. You simply take it one moment at a time. One step at a time, and in the end you get where you are going.

This reminds me of something else I read recently that might even strike more fear into the minds of those wondering what to do next…

"If you're having trouble deciding what to focus on then just focus on nothing."

Can you imagine? At a time in your life when you feel the dire need to really focus on the re-invention process, suddenly someone is telling you to completely let go and succomb to the will of the wind? How on earth could that possibly help me?

I think an old dream I had repeatedly as a kid explains the entire thing…

I'm hanging on for dear life it seems to a water ski rope that is attached to a helicopter that is pulling me through the sky. The feeling is complete fear, anxiety, and all I can think about is hanging on as tight as I can to that water ski rope handle. Until suddenly, out of the blue sky itself, I find the urge to let go and I do.

Floating through the air the feeling is no longer fearful, but exhilarating, and full of excitement. The fear disappearing into the clouds. I'm flying and nothing else matters anymore…

-John

About the Author
John Ashworth is an empathetic sales leader with an incredibly diverse background as a salesman, business consultant, marketing maniac, writer, Dad and full time Bohemian Athlete. aka Johnny Renaissance.

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