The BIGGEST downshifting question: What can I let go of?
When I first take on a coaching client, one of the questions I ask them is “What do you want to lose?” This might be material possessions, as in having a major de-cluttering and recycling session. A little less obvious, but often just as important, are the other items that they might have on their list of things that no longer serve them, such as:
- a relationship
- a belief that they have about themselves
- an unhelpful habit
- a job they no longer enjoy
- a commitment
- a concern
And there can be many others that surface with some further deep reflection.
In some ways this might sound like a miserable exercise as it can lead us to dwell on all those things that we don’t like about our lives. Turn that around and the positive face of letting go is what we’re left with as a result of clearing out the debris – some clear space! This might take the form of “spare time”, something many people only ever glimpse once in a blue moon! Or, it might be some cash, or feelings of renewed energy and joie de livre or tranquillity.
So, to motivate ourselves to let go, it can help to visualise first, to really feel, conjur up, imagine, what the positive, empowering results of our letting go will be. This is the inspiration we can use to fuel our efforts.
The other positive result of this exercise is that it often results in us being far better in touch with what matters most to us in life, aside from earning a living. This is a great point from which to begin to modify how we’re living our lives. Those priorities and values that we unearth become the guiding forces that keep us on track on our journey to a more sustainable way of life.
- a relationship
- a belief that they have about themselves
- an unhelpful habit
- a job they no longer enjoy
- a commitment
- a concern
And there can be many others that surface with some further deep reflection.
In some ways this might sound like a miserable exercise as it can lead us to dwell on all those things that we don’t like about our lives. Turn that around and the positive face of letting go is what we’re left with as a result of clearing out the debris – some clear space! This might take the form of “spare time”, something many people only ever glimpse once in a blue moon! Or, it might be some cash, or feelings of renewed energy and joie de livre or tranquillity.
So, to motivate ourselves to let go, it can help to visualise first, to really feel, conjur up, imagine, what the positive, empowering results of our letting go will be. This is the inspiration we can use to fuel our efforts.
The other positive result of this exercise is that it often results in us being far better in touch with what matters most to us in life, aside from earning a living. This is a great point from which to begin to modify how we’re living our lives. Those priorities and values that we unearth become the guiding forces that keep us on track on our journey to a more sustainable way of life.
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