Whether we are hurting because of a job, people, addiction, spouse, possessions, health, relatives - you name it - there often comes a time in life to finally LET GO. The possessor of one of history's greatest minds, Albert Einstein recognized the phenomenon when he said:

"IN EVERYONE'S LIFE, AT SOME TIME, OUR INNER FIRE GOES OUT. IT IS THEN BURST INTO FLAME BY AN ENCOUNTER WITH ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. WE SHOULD ALL BE THANKFUL FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO REKINDLE THE INNER SPIRIT."

But, because of the training that has been hammered into us from birth, most of us equate LETTING GO with SURRENDER. Our malleable minds were infused with admonishments to KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP and STAY THE COURSE at all costs, period. We are all familiar with the simple, forceful Winston Churchill quote:

"NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP."

But few of us are aware of a similar, but powerfully different variation of that statement, also attributed to Sir Winston concerning the same theme:

"NEVER GIVE IN, NEVER GIVE IN, NEVER; NEVER; NEVER; NEVER - IN NOTHING, GREAT OR SMALL, LARGE OR PETTY - NEVER GIVE IN EXCEPT TO CONVICTIONS OF HONOR AND GOOD SENSE."

The words, "EXCEPT TO CONVICTIONS OF HONOR AND GOOD SENSE" puts a whole new illumination on the subject and seemingly gives us an honorable escape route from something causing us more pain than happiness. Even when we finally accept that we need to release something from our life, we often become stymied from action because of the nagging feeling that we are giving up, or surrendering. But:

"LOYALTY TO A PETRIFIED OPINION NEVER YET BROKE A CHAIN OR FREED A HUMAN SOUL."
- Mark Twain

So hopefully what we eventually figure out is that:

"LETTING GO DOESN'T MEAN GIVING UP, BUT RATHER ACCEPTING THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT CANNOT BE."
- Anon

And why shouldn't these things, jobs, or people, be in our life anymore? It's simple; they hurt us more than they help us. They are anathema to our body and soul. It could be the silly "McMansion" that doesn't fit with our new set of minimalist values, an acquaintance that refuses to recognize or appreciate the changes we have made in ourselves, or a bottle of pills or alcohol that destroys rather than heals us.

"HANG'EM HIGH PARDNER, SHOULD MEAN TO REACH FOR A STAR, NOT A NOOSE."
- Twyman (One of my best ones, if I do say so myself)

So how do we do that? For starters, let's take another cue from Albert:

"IF YOU WANT TO LIVE A HAPPY LIFE, TIE IT TO A GOAL, NOT TO PEOPLE OR THINGS."

"Things wear out, get stolen, lost, pitched or given away. People change, die and even stray but our goals are ours alone, and remain with us at the end of the day."
- Twyman

"PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME LETTING GO OF THEIR SUFFERING. OUT OF A FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN, THEY PREFER SUFFERING THAT IS FAMILIAR."
- Thich Nhat Hanh (A Buddhist Monk and philosopher that has greatly influenced my own search for personal evolvement, both from a practical and a spiritual standpoint)

"WHEN I LET GO OF SOMETHING THAT NO LONGER IS GOOD FOR ME, I AM STILL ME. I'M JUST AN IMPROVED VERSION FOR YOU AND I TO BE AROUND."
- Twyman

And that's the bottom line, isn't it? The surprising thing, the big leap for us, is to get it through our head that people don't think all that much about us, what we are doing, or where we have been or are going. What they mostly think about us is how we make them feel.

Twyman's books will provide you with a chapter of teaching material to use at every staff meeting you hold. Each meeting is not only a time to handle the business at hand, but presents a teaching opportunity that your managers will grasp and enjoy.