Breathing Space

Free at last! I’ve just finished the project from hell and am now, as my good friend Kata would say, in the process of ‘getting my groove back’. This has been a real learning experience. I took on something that I thought would be interesting and challenging, which it turned out to be – for all the wrong reasons.

Where I was looking for intellectual stimulation, I got workload overload in a relentless and thankless way that still has me reeling. The very sad thing is that most of the people were fabulous, the work itself wasn’t even that bad, but the lack of resources, direction and support just made it an impossible task.

Luckily, I came to my senses and decided to head off for pastures new. I say luckily, because I – like quite a few other people I know – have a dreadful habit of hanging on with lost causes trying to make them work, thinking that if I just throw more energy, money, time, whatever, that will solve the problem. But, you know, some things just won’t work or aren’t right for you, whatever you throw at them. Wisdom is knowing when to persevere – and when to run for the hills!

This week, take a look at what’s not working in your life and ask yourself why you’re still trying to solve the same problem. If you’ve thrown everything but the kitchen sink at it and it’s still not working, might it be time to consider that it may never pan out? Is it time to plan your exit strategy or are you content to throw good money after bad for a while yet? What’s stopping you from calling it a day? Sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do is just walk away. That might not be conventional wisdom, but it’s fabulously liberating. Go ahead, give it a try …

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All material © 2007 Alison Porter. No article may be reproduced in full or in part without the express permission of the author. (Originally posted 17 Jul 07)