I Want to Start a Movement: Sometimes You Need to Let Things Go
I was texting with a friend the other day and we were discussing the upcoming Boston Marathon. It is typically held in the spring, but was moved to Monday, October 11th this year. We are planning to travel together on a bus to get there, and we both are hoping to see the changing of the leaves. I love the fall — the smells, the colors, and the cooler temperatures. I enjoy reflecting on the cycle of nature — we see things grow, then die or retreat. The earth rests and then resumes its growth in the spring. Nature demonstrates what we need to think about in personal growth as well.
I picked up my phone this morning to look for some inspirational readings and opened right away to this quote: “The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let things go.”
One of the reasons I love the book Turn the Ship Around is the deep humility the author, David Marquet, exhibits as he actively learned how to lead. He made mistakes. He spent some time in the trunk and the back seat of our “trauma-informed” car. He repeatedly let his mistakes go. He struggled to find the path of emancipation for his talented crew. He practiced forgiveness. David, knowingly or not, created connection and attachment among crew mates. Once there was routine and safety in the work, he supported crew members to regulate how they responded to unforeseen situations and to each other. Living and working on a submarine is pretty tight quarters, so being able to regulate — especially when you’re in the back seat — is difficult. Ultimately, David led his team to competency by continuing to give control. Together they took everyone’s skills and got the job done. They carried the weight of each other and let individual strengths support the crew.
By doing these things, David honored others and himself. He forgave himself, his mistakes, and if we met his crew, I would guess that they remember him for how he made them feel. That reminds me of the Maya Angelou quote: “I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
As we grow as leaders, let’s take a lesson from nature…and let’s appreciate Maya Angelou’s beautiful reflection. It is lovely to let things go.
