running away
“Do not run away; let go. Do not seek; for it will come when least expected.”
- Bruce Lee
Not only was Bruce Lee a tremendous actor and athlete, but he was full of wisdom. This quote, which revealed itself to me this morning, can apply to anything in your life.
Careers.
People.
Trauma.
Habits.
When I think about these words, I think about how running away does not keep you in control of the situation. Yes, you are the one “running away,” but it’s because you are trying to get away from something–that something has all the power in the situation. Running away is fueled by fear, anger, or sadness, and there is never a sense of peace and closure because, just as when you run away from a dog, whatever you are running away from might chase after you. You’ll always be looking over your shoulder to see if it has caught up with you.
But, when you let go, you are in control of the situation–the power is in your control. Letting go requires you to accept that whatever you are allowing to leave your life is no longer aligned with you, and there is a sense of peace and closure when you finally let go. There is no looking over the shoulder because you set it free.
For me, the part of Lee’s quote about not seeking did not speak to me as much as the running away part; it was another reminder to find alignment, set intentions, and that the flow of life will bring to you what is supposed to be, so I do not have anything to share on the second part of the quote.
When you realize that someone or something no longer aligns with your Pursuit, it might seem easier to run away and avoid dealing with the tough conversations and emotions that come with letting go, but you will be much better off in the long run, letting go. And by letting go, which removes the someone or something from your life, it frees up space for the next someone or something that is aligned with you to come into your life, just when you least expect it.
See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,
JC