Letting Things Go

When you first read this week’s title, where did your mind take it?  I will assume like most it went to the idea of letting go of negative feelings or resentment for a person.

What I can tell you is wherever your mind takes it is most likely the place it needs to be applied.

None the less, letting things go has a couple different meanings that I would like for you to think through today.

Yes, the first one is who do you need to forgive, what habits do you need to change, or what old ways of doing things is it time to move on from?  Above all else, most people need to let go and forgive themselves for any mistake you’ve made so you can be at peace and move forward.  Too many people live in the past.

In fact, even when you talk to your patients, they are making decisions because of the decisions they have already made once before.  Instead of evaluating this opportunity in isolation, it is cluttered with the past.  New information begets new decisions; at least it should.

Now 180 degrees the other way.  You can flip this phrase of letting things go is that all too often we let things go that we shouldn’t.

We are negligent with conversations that need to be had, with technology that needs to be fixed, with a team member who consistently doesn’t pull their weight (or won’t change their verbiage or get with the program), or not speaking up when you know the solution.

Successful people make decisions quickly and confidently.  They expedite addressing problems that need resolved without delay or hesitation.

Letting things go entails everything from a garden full of weeds, a car not fit to drive, a house that’s falling a part, a relationship that is crumbling or a mouth that is in a state of concern.

If you want to improve your outcomes and elevate your circumstance in life, you will learn to embrace and proactively develop the skills to…

NOT let things go that you shouldn’t

And

TO let things go that you should

Making solid decisions and understanding which is which in your life is one of the most powerful and important keys to success, happiness and above all else peace of mind that leads to clear thinking and fulfillment.

Here we are, supposed to be talking about dentistry, and yet there are life lessons all around us.

Anytime you have a patient who is obstinate, stubborn or pretending that something isn’t what it is, you can teach them this little lesson, “There are things that are okay to let go but your mouth, your health, your teeth, your sleep, your smile isn’t one of them.”

Or… “You know Mr. or Mrs. Patient, you have been letting this go long enough.”

There’s a funny thing about life: when you get better at helping yourself, you get better at helping others.  You will be surprised by the influence you will have when you live a more proactive live for your own benefit.

I ask you today: what things do you need to let go of and what things have you been letting go for far too long?

Think deeply.  A personal and a practice list would be a wonderful thing to share and very instructive for everyone who is a part of your day-time family and I’d bet that this discussion can have dramatic impact on the other family too.

You can help stop your patients from lettings things go, by first by stopping yourself.