Has this ever happened to you? You had to take a break from something – fully intending to go back to it – but somehow never did. You did not mean to abandon the project, but in the end, that is what happened.
If so, you are not alone.
Recently, I had to make some decisions about my life and work, and there were some things I wasn’t ready to just stop doing. But other priorities had to take precedence, so I had to make a choice. Even as I was putting some things on hold, in my heart I knew that for some it was a death knell. I would not be back. Because that is what happens, even perhaps should happen. The issue might then be how we approach the pause.
I have found three questions that have helped me when I’m not certain about the future of something. It could be a project, an investment, a relationship – it is just something that, in the priority ranking, needs to be temporarily (or permanently) culled out of your life. This dialog is what helps me make decisions with confidence.
#1 – Why am I doing this?
This is the first question to ask because the reason we even started is always the critical barometer for our consideration. In some cases, the reason we started something no longer exists. That is the real reason it has drifted down the priority list, even if we don’t recognize that at first glance. When that is the case, it’s definitely not a pause; it is a stop, and we should treat it that way. End it gracefully and generously with compassion for ourselves and anyone else involved.
#2 – Why am I doing this now?
Timing is the second factor. Context comes from timing. It is how we see the current importance of things. It may be that something else in our lives is stalled or on hiatus, and that has affected this particular thing as well. Understanding the relationship between timing and dependencies makes it possible for us to decide when (or if) to revisit our decision. It may be a pause for now until we can determine whether a later timing changes our perspective and priorities. A key distinction is that we actually choose a date (or other condition) to reconsider our choice.
#3 – How can I use this now?
Leverage. This is where we have the opportunity to create good from whatever the decision may be. A transfer of value is always a good thing. And knowledge applied is knowledge valued. How much easier to consolidate than to cancel! Yes, this was a good use of my time, money, and energy, and it’s brought me to the point that I now need to do something else. Now I will transfer my results of this and feel good about the investment. It really becomes a continuation vs. a cancel.
Three questions. A good place to begin testing our response to shifting priorities.
When we ask the right questions, the answers that come make the path forward clear. We’re able to make the choices we need to make to keep the right investments of our resources front and center.
As we live today, as we want tomorrow to be, it’s important to remind ourselves that what we want for tomorrow is subject to change as well. Because everything changes as we change. It’s why the word today is so important in that statement. It’s about NOW. It’s about what we want for tomorrow right now, so we can live it right now.
What about you? Are you also looking at something in your work or life and wondering if the priority has changed? Sometimes it’s hard to see what’s worth keeping when you’re standing too close to it.
That’s where I can help.
If you’re facing a decision or transition and want a fresh perspective on how to interrogate what still has value and re-imagine what’s next, just hit reply. Let’s explore what’s possible together.
Because everything we choose to question becomes part of the foundation for what’s coming next.
