Let go or work harder?
Do you find it difficult to choose between the two?
And, what if letting go instead of working harder is exactly what you need? Even if it is just for a day?
Most people say that you must have a goal in mind as soon as the sun rises. And that’s kind of true. Because goals give you a clear direction about what to do on any given day. Goals make one’s days, weeks, months, years, and finally whole life more productive. And it rings true to our ears because unless you have a clear goal in mind how would you move towards it, right?
But what if you’re stressed out because of too many goals hammering your mind all day long?
What if you want to relax a bit and not follow a predetermined path? What if you want to let the day pass as it pleases? Without any goals or “to-do lists?”
Sure, it goes against the popular notion of having goals, being proactive, and molding your life.
But can you not let go? For once?
Sure you can.
It’s your life after all. And you can do whatever the hell you want to do with it.
But hey, let’s be practical here.
Let’s not talk about letting go for days or weeks or your entire life. How about this day? This very day?
It does make sense. Because the only day you have is today, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet, and it never will. As they say, every day, when it comes, becomes today.
Now, I am not asking you to tear off your to-do lists and throw away your diaries or digital planners. No, I am just encouraging you to do a little experiment.
Let’s Find Out If “Letting Go” Can Help You.
Step back from goals. And planning. And let the day take over.
I know it sounds weird since we’re accustomed to having a clear-cut plan for everything. Because that’s what “successful” people do, right?
But just for the sake of it, pause planning and executing and ticking off the tasks on the list for a day.
Let the day unfold on its own. Let it take you wherever it wants. You just co-operate.
And notice how you feel about being in a position of letting go.
Remember: there is no “letting go technique.” So, don’t ask, “How do I let go?” Because when you want a “method” to let go, that means you’re still trying to remain in control. You have been trying to control your day and now you’re even trying to “control” the letting go.
You either let go or you don’t. See the point?
Now, If you let go, then today will not feel like other days. Because when you let things happen, when you allow the day to take its own lazy course, the day will feel “kind of different.” Of course, I can’t guarantee that you’ll feel blissed out or relaxed or things like that. But letting life take over (at least once in a while) gives you a fresher, more relaxed perspective.
Letting go can make you realize that maybe you’re trying too hard to “accomplish”, and stepping back a little could be a saner and better idea.
Try it.
You don’t have anything to lose or gain from it, for that matter. It’s just an experiment that can give you a little distance from whatever you’re doing at present. And sometimes, that’s exactly what is needed: a little distance. Because distance makes you look at things the way they really are.
Now, when you step back and look at things the way they are (and not what you thought they were) you might notice a certain uneasiness. Because let’s admit it, we’re a generation of control freaks. We want to control and give direction to our lives, and it’s so freaking ingrained in our psyche that we think it to be normal, but is it?
Is Trying to Control Everything, Normal?
Yes, we do need “direction” of some sort to have a respectful and dignified life, but do we really need to guide everything? At all times?
Not necessarily.
Sometimes, we need to stop. We need to take a break and ask ourselves, “Do I really need to do this my own way, or can I let go and let things shape the way they want?”
When you let go (even for a day), you’ll realize that you’re trying to control things that are beyond your “control.”
Let me give you an example.
You can try to be respectful and courteous towards others but will they also act the same is not under your control.
I am not saying give up on your goals and put your dreams into a wooden box and throw that box out of the window. I am proposing to pause for today. Step back and let the day decide what you will do or not do.
Once today is over, and if you like how it felt, you can go ahead and try it for 7 more days or maybe for 30 days. And if you didn’t like “letting go,” then you always have your “goals” and “staying in control” to fall back to.
It’s a fair deal.
What say you?