Letting Go To Succeed

amazing mathew! you’ll never know how much your words can actually reach the ones who need to let things go. and sometimes it takes the right words for them to know its ok.

Danielle it brings me happiness to read your words and know something I wrote was helpful! Thank you for letting me know

It means a lot to hear that – thank you!

It’s the same when shooting with bow and arrow, you know as you release the arrow how good or bad was the shot before it hits the target, you don’t need to look at it to know how was it. But I know we are not used to be aware of our-selfs to find out this way, we are more used to value others people comments or evaluation.

(thanks to all on pickthebrain)

Really nice story metaphor at the start there. I know what you mean too its the same when playing football (soccer). You can just tell when a shot is going in because you feel great about it.

[...] Letting Go to Succeed In order to truly succeed at life, there are a lot of things that a person has to let go of. Past failures. Self-doubt. The list goes on and on. (@ pick the brain) [...]

@evoka – I agree, we are not used to being aware of ourselves and our feelings – hopefully we start paying attention

@Richard – thanks!

@Trent – Selfishness, Anger, Being hurt, Pride

great thoughts Matt!… I would add that it’s not only the misguided “actions” that are a result of this “fixation”, but also the inactions such as blind loyalty and not paying attention to your environment… these inactions will yield the same results through guilty by association… thanks again for a great article…

What a powerful article. I could totally relate as I’m often a results-oriented, driven person who stays focus on getting things done no matter what.

This post reminds me that the best strategy to succeed is to sometimes step back, relax, and then reflect.

As far as the tie thing goes….I’m impressed. I only wish I could get my sons to wear a tie for one day.

What an inspiring post, Matt. I have recently found “letting go” to be absolutely life-changing and it is because I let go of a person who I depended way too much on and who did not appreciate me. One thing can be said for letting go – it is not easy. In fact, sometimes it’s the last thing we want to do. But you have to listen to yourself and figure out what’s best for YOU. Thanks for the great post.

Wow…by the time I finished reading the paragraphs about your basketball break, I was taken aback. That was me you’re describing and I never realized it until now, that the reason why you practiced your shots was and is the very same reason why I love going back to that pole again and again and again. The swish of the net is music to my ears, the clang of the rim jerks me out of complacency, glory and self-pride, and brought me back to alerted-state, my body, my senses ready to ‘read’, criticize, reprimand my moves to get better, to do better…. Doing those shots tell me I am driven, I can do better, I can be better although in reality, I don’t play basketball! Doing the shots give me purpose, goal, target and that’s all that matters. I don’t know if I am making any sense here. Just those particular descriptions you have jolted me that I am compelled to write a comment on here (my first!). Thank you for sharing your insights!

ah Inactions are a great topic – thanks for the comment!

Thanks Kim!

Good for you! Best wishes!

You’re making perfect sense! Thanks for sharing and reading the article

Nice article! No doubt that one of the greatest challenges we must overcome in order to find joy in life is our own desire to control the outcome of our journey rather than surrender to its leading. Our journey’s outcome is not guaranteed to come in the form we expect, but some kind of benefit will always follow our surrender to the process and the journey. And as you noted, the irony is, we make more shots when we’re not focused on making the shots. Great metaphor for much of life. Thanks for sharing.

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the anxiety of the situation that I lose sight of the goal. I guess I have a somewhat opposite problem, and in those times I just relax and think about how I’ll feel when the experience is over. In fact, I was kickboxing the other day and felt like I was going to pass out. I told myself, “Finish Strong” (inspired by Dan Green’s book: http://store.simpletruths.com/Product1420), and just powered through the tiredness…and that made all the difference.

Hey Matt,

A great read, and a wonderful reminder. I like the analogy of the basketball shot – that only when we let go of focusing on trying to constantly “succeed” and start focusing on the actual actions we’re taking (and enjoying the moments and the process) will things really start to go our way

This is something I have often thought about, and definitely struggle with – to keep the two separated, and realzie that I can in some ways affect the outcome: but really, the focus needs to be on the moments and what I’m doing.

[...] Letting Go to Succeed In order to truly succeed at life, there are a lot of things that a person has to let go of. Past failures. Self-doubt. The list goes on and on. (@ pick the brain) [...]

[...] Letting Go to Succeed In order to truly succeed at life, there are a lot of things that a person has to let go of. Past failures. Self-doubt. The list goes on and on. (@ pick the brain) [...]

[...] Everyday I take a break from my work when I get to the point of being tired of what I am doing, and I usually go play basketball. The breaks that I enjoy the most are when I am alone on the court. Uninterrupted. I shoot, shot after shot. I enjoy trying to perfect my shot. I have an inner desire to become gifted. I have come to the point where I know what I need to do to consistently make shots, but I just don’t consistently do what I need to do. The rim lets me know how I am doing. I love having it’s instant feed back. The loud clang of the rim challenges me to become better, and the soft swish of the net rewards me. But today, I realized that the rim’s instant feed back is unnecessary…. Read ahead [...]

Matt, thanks for this article. I kind of knew that it’s important to focus on the journey rather than destination (all books say that), but your post really convinced me and made me realize that I care more about the activity rather than the result.

If we focus too much on success, we often forget about all the steps that are necessary achieve our goals and fail.

Great comment Dr – Thanks!

Thanks for commenting!

Thank you and keep at it!

Good! Follow your heart!

Most excellent and inspiring.

I have spent much of my life being results oriented and for the most part feel like I can success is a normal thing.

The last 1.5 years, I have been practicing what you describe. Letting go. Doing what I do. Doing it in a way I know is true to myself and true to those I bring it to. It’s much more enjoyable. The word “stress” doesn’t pop up so often.

And more good stuff seems to come around through it all…
so go ahead… try “let go”!

Wag!

[...] Letting Go to Succeed In order to truly succeed at life, there are a lot of things that a person has to let go of. Past failures. Self-doubt. The list goes on and on. (@ pick the brain) [...]

Truly an insightful article. It’s true, those who aren’t true to themselves consoled themselves everyday by telling themselves lies- and it felt empty.
Your article remind me of those hard days of striving to achieve my goals- working with friends and colleagues and how those times still put a smile on my face. But at the point, we are so busy aiming for the end line that we forgot to enjoy the journey. Thanks for the insight, Matt… you have managed to effectively verbalise thoughts from the hearts of many.

This is a very significant target of gunfire, trying to feel what is all around us, and which I knew was the focus for Letting Go To Succeed.
Thank you for sharing and Succesful

I recently read that in order to grow – as a person, as a business, whatever – first, you have to let go.

Good comments everyone! Thanks for sharing