Less Holding On, More Embracing New
In my last blog post, I wrote about one of my "do less, do more" items for 2021 and mentioned I would share all three of them over my next several blogs. Here is the second one:
Do less: Holding on to things that no longer serve me, are taking up precious time, or are holding me back. This includes clutter, commitments, thinking, and relationships.
Do more: Sell or donate items I no longer need and get them out faster. Find new commitments and challenges that excite me. Meet new, like-mind people. Let go of relationships that need to end.
This strategy creates room for what makes me happy and will allow me to grow personally and professionally.
Let's start with clutter. I have it - throughout my house, in my closets, and in my garage. It includes magazines and paper that I don't need, clothing that I don't wear, and items that have been accumulated over the years and have managed to move with me from other houses. I have made a lot of progress but still have some lingering items and it weighs on me, every day. One recent approach that has really worked for me in making decisions about items is to think about how else I could use that space/drawer/closet/garage if I removed the items currently in there. For example, if there was less being stored in the garage, I could actually get my car in and/or use the space for my Saturday workouts. If I cleaned out my spare bedroom closet and donated some of the dated formal dresses that I will never wear again, I would have space to store more meaningful items that have been passed down to me.
On the relationship piece, I have recognized that one in particular just needed to end. Others needed to change to reduce drama in my life. By recognizing what wasn’t working and making these decisions, I realized that I could put forth more effort to make new friends and acquaintances who can positively add value to my life.
One other area I thought about is where I have committed to spend my time. This included clubs, organizations, and networking or professional groups. I would like to get involved in a new board role but given that I only have so much time, I have to make sure I'm only staying involved in the existing groups that are really important to me. If they are not or if I've committed enough time over the years, maybe it's time to step aside and allow others the opportunity to serve.
I have also recognized that over the years, I have picked up opinions, approaches, and thinking that now, as I really look at it, need some updates. This can be hard to recognize, as it was for me. I have these little ways of thinking that I know established themselves in my mind all throughout my life, and I recognize that it is time to make sure they still apply and if not, I need to reset my thinking to where I am today. Usually, this takes the form of being more open than I was before, for things as minor to what color of car I might select or as significant as the type of new business opportunity I might consider. What I thought and established as my way of thinking in my 20s or early in my career, for example, needs to be refreshed and include the growth and learnings I have acquired throughout the years.
The bottom line to this approach is that in order to make room for something new, sometimes it is best and easiest (and necessary) to let go of something in order to create the space for possibilities. I'm excited about all that I am making room for and hope that this approach works for you also!