Tools for Transformation Tuesday: Saying Goodbye

Making room for something new nearly almost requires saying goodbye. Whether an old job, relationship, or city, we often must let go of something  to create room in our lives for the new. This principle is obvious - and sometimes easier to embrace - when we find ourselves trapped in a dead-end job, toxic relationship, or community at odds with our values or desires, but sometimes we must bid farewell to something good to make room for something better.

Earlier this month I bid farewell to a great job. I said goodbye to colleagues whose company I enjoy, a boss I respect deeply, and work I find interesting. As I prepared for my last day I second-guessed my decision: why on earth would I walk away from an inarguably great situation to enter something not only unfamiliar, but also undefined. My internal rational list-maker insisted this was a very bad idea. Saying goodbye to certainty and an identity I held dear for more than a decade made no sense. But an even louder voice giggled that the uncertainty, the lack of definition was precisely the point: I was creating margin that would enable me to dive more deeply into things that bring me joy.

My one small step brought me one giant leap outside my comfort zone, and the work of becoming comfortable with uncertainty has begun. For the first time in a long time I am operating without a map and rediscovering how to enjoy the journey. 

What do you need to let go of to create margin in your life? How can you find room for something great? Let the adventure begin...

---