Letting Go to Move On

The start of a new year compels many of us to think about making significant changes. It seems we’re never satisfied with the previous year and vow to do better in the new one. Over the holiday break, I spent a lot of time thinking about how I wanted 2008 to be better than 2007. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I do have hopes and dreams: I want to share my expertise with more people. I want to grow my business. I want to make more money. I want to pursue my interests in travel and music.  I want to have good relationships with my friends, family and colleagues. I just want to be happy.

Moving to action to get what I want was another issue. I asked, “Where am I now compared to where I want to be?”

I came to realize that I was holding myself back from getting what I wanted because I was living among clutter. My thoughts were cluttered with doubt and negativity. My living space was cluttered with mounds of papers. I was holding on to lots of unnecessary stuff. Activities of questionable value were cluttering my schedule. I was going through the motions but not really engaged. It was time to let go and get re-energized.

As I’ve talked with my friends and colleagues the last few weeks the theme of “letting go” has been prevalent. It turns out I’m not the only one hanging onto thoughts, actions, people and possessions that no longer serve a useful purpose. While hanging on does provide a sense of security, it’s also a barrier to moving forward and achieving a higher level of satisfaction.

Over the break, I spent a lot of time purging. I went back through years and years of articles, business cards, bank statements and miscellaneous stuff. I filed what I truly needed and tossed the rest. I threw out old clothes and shoes. I shredded so much paperwork it filled up 4 trash bags! I removed my name from catalog mailing lists, and I cancelled magazine subscriptions. I really cleaned house. As I was going through all the items, I quickly realized that I was hanging onto so much useless stuff there was no room for nice, new and more useful stuff. I had no room to expand or enhance.

Letting go was liberating. With some breathing room I now feel like I can focus on moving forward with a clear direction and a clear space.

Hanging onto all that stuff is not unlike what many others hang onto with respect to their careers. Whether it’s negotiating for a raise, seeking a promotion, updating skills, or making a career change, people want to improve their career situation each year. However, many things hold them back such as arbitrary milestones (“As soon as X happens, I’ll know it’s time to move on), false hope that things will miraculously change on their own, or doubts about their abilities and competitiveness.

As you might imagine, since the start of the New Year, I’ve gotten lots of calls and emails from people who want to take stock of their career and start taking action to move forward. They’re updating their resumes, learning about job search strategies and assessing their strengths in preparation for career advancement. More importantly, they are ready to let go of the mental clutter in order to achieve their dreams.

As 2008 rolls on, I encourage you to take stock and let go of the thoughts and actions that are keeping you from reaching your career goals and make room for success and happiness in the New Year.

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Markell R. Steele, Career Counselor and founder of Futures in Motion, Inc., is a national certified counselor, distance credentialed counselor, speaker, and author of Fast Track Your Career: Three Steps for Finding Work You Love.

Find more career and job search articles at http://www.futures-in-motion.com/article_archive.php. Contact Markell at http://www.futures-in-motion.com/contact_us.php.

Copyright © 2008, Futures In Motion