I’m Fired!

A couple of weeks ago some friends and I were discussing a situation Ruth has been struggling with for a while.  How do you leave a less than ideal position with a less than ideal client?  Suddenly Mary piped up, “I fired myself once”.  As our heads all spun to learn more I began to see the amazing gift in being able to fire yourself.

Small business owners, entrepreneurs or professionals don’t have the luxury of being fired.  Typically they are the ones in charge, running flat out with no one to tell them “STOP doing what you are doing!”.  Some might think this built-in job security is freedom.  But what if I want to change?

I’ve heard countless stories of people being overjoyed because they were fired.  Finally, their wish had come true.  Now they could get on with what they really longed to pursue.  Yet to get the ball rolling it took somebody else to do the “dirty work”, to come out and say No! 

When Mary said she fired herself I saw how I need the courage within to stop doing what I’m doing and get on with Life.  Sometimes I do things because I’ve always done them, they’ve become familiar habits.  Sometimes I do things because I tell myself I’m the only one who can.  And other times I do things simply because they provide a great excuse for not doing what I know I should.  All the while, what I long to do patiently waits in the wings, gently reminding me every now and again it has not gone away.

So if I don’t fire myself – who will?  I may have to wait a very long time for somebody to show up and release me from my duties – self-imposed or not.  Because that’s what is holding me back – waiting for somebody else to make the decision I don’t have the courage to take.