Releasing Your Stranglehold On Life

You will strangle all the joy out of life when you hang onto everything too tight. The process becomes the grind. Milestones become way stations in the desert. You can drive yourself so crazy chasing opportunity and success that you forgot why you even wanted these things in the first place.

Most consummate overachievers could release their stranglehold on the opportunities in their life and still have amazing results. Perhaps, even better results. After all, nobody likes a try-hard.

The first time I experienced the benefits of letting go was when I released my stranglehold on university. I was so fatigued from overworking myself, that I didn't care about my grades, nor what my professors thought of me. I vowed to still show up and do my assignments, but I was going to put my well-being first. You know what happened?

Not a damn thing changed.

My grades were still just as good. My relationships with professors improved. I was enjoying school again. I released my stranglehold on opportunity and success, and it actually helped my situation.

I watched as my classmates continued to work themselves stupid. They were putting in that all nighter to maybe get 2% more than me on a grade that would never matter after graduation. In reality, getting a good night's sleep probably would have earned them an extra 2% from avoiding silly mistakes on the exam.

It's counterintuitive, but sometimes we can try too hard. The stranglehold we have on an opportunity makes us desperate to succeed. Our perspective becomes myopic, and our disposition ornery, rather than affable and playful.

People want to see someone enjoy their efforts, their craft, and their life. We are attracted to those that not only do something well, but those that do it with grace. You can succeed and take advantage of opportunities, without choking the fun out of something you once enjoyed.

Love the process. Celebrate the little achievements. Have a sense of humour when it doesn't go your way. Release your stranglehold on life, and see if anything changes.

I bet you everything will be just fine.