Don’t Want to Be a Quitter? Think Again.

A recent article in the business section of the New York Times discussed the value of “strategic quitting.” The article quoted several of my favorite thinkers and leaders, Seth Godin and Kristen Neff.

This article felt very timely for me personally, as I recently made a decision to “strategically quit”  teaching, leading or facilitating any workshops, groups or classes until 2019.

This decision may not sound like a big deal; However, in reality it was monumental.

Nearly every self-employed person knows that you have to work when the work comes, and it can often be an unpredictable roller coaster ride for your calendar and your bank account.

I realized I had become one of those people who, when asked “how are you?”,  would answer, “I am busy. Very busy.”  Sometimes it would take weeks or months to schedule tea or lunch with a friend or colleague.

I spend countless hours sitting with clients, students and supervisees who talk about the stress and sorrow they feel because they’re overloaded and overcommitted. And I realized that if I did not take a look at this habit myself, I was basically just a hypocrite.

At the moment I am enjoying a well-paced private practice, with enough time for writing, breathing and connecting with others. I am humbled by the numerous offers to teach and lead workshops and retreats that are still rolling in, and I feel immensely grateful to be able to say “Thanks but not right now. Call me again in 2019.”

 

Untie the knots of the will.
Loosen
your clenched grip
barren hills of bone.
Here, no edges to hone,
only the palm fallen
open as a rose about
to toss its petals.
-Marge Piercy