LETTING GO

It’s been said that the best way to catch a monkey is to take a gourd, cut a small hole in it, fill it with some rice, tie it down securely, and wait for a monkey to come along. When the monkey sticks his hand into the hole and grabs a handful of rice, he can't get it out since he refuses to let go of the rice held in his clenched fist.

Incredibly, we humans do this very same thing. No, I don't mean we go around getting our fists stuck in coconuts. However, we do have our mindsets and ways of doing things that we refuse to let go of. We hang on to these habits and attitudes with a ferocity and tenacity that is second to none, and we just don't want to let go.

The other day, I talked with a good friend about this very thing. He was lamenting that he sometimes is pretty overwhelmed with his business and knows he needs to relinquish some of his responsibilities. In response, I asked him, “How do you eat an elephant?” Of course, the answer to that question is: “You eat an elephant one bite at a time.” And that is precisely how we should let go of those things that keep holding us back from maximizing our living–a little bit at a time.

Trust me. I have many of these attitudes myself that I keep hanging on to. For instance, I can be very set in my ways about how to administrate our business, and it is hard for me to release control to someone else even though I know I should. However, when I do let go, it allows me to focus on something else that is usually a higher priority. Letting go also tends to produce greater results in the end.

What are you hanging on to and refusing to let go of? Look into both your personal and professional life. Develop some step-by-step action plans to let go and charge forward to new opportunities, taking the necessary risks to attain the success you desire.

And remember this: Hang on when and where you really have to. Do not be afraid to let go when and where you really have to. Don't attempt to let go of things all at once. Instead, take just like you would eat an elephant–a little bit at a time.