![\"roderick-sia-JIjP3sIwC8o-unsplash\"](\"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2024\/11\/roderick-sia-JIjP3sIwC8o-unsplash.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
(Image courtesy of Roderick Sia)<\/em><\/p>\n We\u2019ve all been there\u2014juggling about fifty different things while somehow still trying to stay upright. Life can feel like a circus act, with responsibilities flying around like flaming torches, and you, the daring acrobat, praying none of them land on your face. If your daily routine feels like a tightrope walk between chaos and a nervous breakdown, it\u2019s time to pause and ask yourself: What can I set down for a season?<\/em><\/p>\n First off, take a deep breath. Now, I get it\u2014life is short, and the endless motivational quotes on Instagram tell us to “live every moment to the fullest.” Sure, that\u2019s nice and all, but it can also leave you feeling like you\u2019re in a perpetual race to “do all the things.” You know what? I like to believe life is also long. Yes, I said it. We have time to do it all, just maybe not all at once.<\/p>\n Let’s face it: society makes us think we have to be superheroes. Work that 9-to-5, train for a marathon, start a side hustle, raise perfect kids, master the ukulele, and post your fabulous life on social media\u2014all while practicing mindfulness and drinking celery juice. It\u2019s exhausting just thinking about it.<\/p>\n So here\u2019s the reality check: It\u2019s okay to set something down for a while. It doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ve failed. It doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re quitting. It just means you\u2019re smart enough to know that some things can wait. You\u2019re essentially Marie Kondo-ing your life, thanking a task for its service, and letting it go (for now).<\/p>\n What can you set down for a season? Well, start with the things that are draining your energy, but don\u2019t have an immediate payoff or necessity. That ambitious cross-stitching hobby you picked up during quarantine? Maybe it\u2019s time to put that on hold. The side hustle that\u2019s making you more stressed than excited? Let it simmer on the back burner.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a little secret: life moves in seasons. What doesn\u2019t fit into this season of your life may fit perfectly into the next. Want to finish that novel? It\u2019s okay if it doesn\u2019t happen this year. Want to learn a new language? It\u2019ll still be there next summer. Just because you\u2019re setting something down now doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re abandoning it forever. It\u2019s more like saying, \u201cHey, I\u2019ll get to you later when I\u2019ve got the mental bandwidth.\u201d<\/p>\n I mean, look at some of the most notable leaders and visionaries out there. Steve Jobs took a break from Apple\u2014his own company<\/em>\u2014only to come back stronger and more innovative than ever. J.K. Rowling didn\u2019t publish Harry Potter until she was well into her 30s. Heck, even the Roman Empire didn\u2019t build itself in a day. Sometimes, you just need to hit pause, gather your energy, and return with fresh eyes and a clear head.<\/p>\n Setting something down doesn\u2019t make you lazy. It doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re failing at life. In fact, it might be the smartest move you can make. Think of it as strategic rest. Athletes don\u2019t train at full speed all year round. They have off-seasons to recover, rebuild, and come back stronger.<\/p>\n The same goes for your mental and emotional well-being. If you\u2019re constantly pushing yourself to do everything, you\u2019ll burn out before you even get to the fun part. Remember, even the most successful people in the world take breaks. So, why shouldn\u2019t you?<\/p>\n Take a look at your life right now. What\u2019s demanding your attention? What are the \u201cyes\u201d commitments that are aligned with your goals? And then\u2014just as important\u2014what\u2019s distracting you from those goals? The key is not to get so caught up in the juggling act that you forget to enjoy the show.<\/p>\n By setting something down for a season, you\u2019re not shutting the door on it forever. You\u2019re simply giving yourself the gift of focus. You\u2019re saying, \u201cI\u2019ve got enough on my plate right now, but I\u2019ll come back to this when I can give it the attention it deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n So, what\u2019s the takeaway? You don\u2019t need to do everything, and you certainly don\u2019t need to do it all at once. Life is long enough to allow for seasons of rest, reflection, and recalibration. And when you come back to those things you set down, you\u2019ll do so with renewed energy and perspective.<\/p>\n The next time your phone buzzes, your inbox explodes, or another task drops into your lap, ask yourself: Does this align with the season of life I\u2019m in?<\/em> If not, it\u2019s okay to say, \u201cNot now.\u201d Trust me\u2014when the time is right, you\u2019ll pick it back up, and it\u2019ll be all the sweeter for having waited.<\/p>\n Bob Fagan has just published\u00a0“The Little Book of Questions That Matter — A Lifetime Companion For Transforming Your Life.”\u00a0It is available on Amazon.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Myth of Doing It All (At Once)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Life\u2019s Cycles: Timing is Everything<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Permission to Pause<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Freedom of Saying “Not Now”<\/strong><\/h3>\n