June 12, 2024
Dr. El-Shaimaa Abumandour

Life is a magical journey. We strive to fulfill specific desires, such as having better health, a successful career, healthy and everlasting relationships, or even living a wealthy life. In the meantime, no one wants to struggle in life, have problems at work, pass through hard times, or go through frustration and stress. Humans are skilled at prioritizing their needs, planning, and working to reach their goals. Success requires a clear vision, persistence, dedication, and hard work. Despite the pain and struggle you may face to reach your goal, achieving it is a great feeling. One of my colleagues once told me that achieving your degree requires hard work and lots of time and effort. It is exactly like climbing a mountain. You walk long distances and may struggle with breathing, yet when you reach your destination, you will forget all your pain and see the most marvelous sight you will never forget.

Passion is the motive for pursuing your dreams. Happiness and satisfaction are signs that we are heading in the right direction. If, for any reason, these feelings change, and instead you start losing your motivation or are exhausted, drained, and burned out, I encourage you to reassess your goals. Healthy relationships, personal or professional, require giving, which is a two-way path. All the involved parties should make an equal effort to preserve the relationship’s wellbeing. 

It is unworthy to willingly sacrifice your peace of mind, happiness, values, and growth for the sake of any relationship, personal or professional. Always follow your inner feelings, because that is the way your subconscious mind protects you and helps you make the right decision at the right time. In my life, I do not accept the quote that says “no one is content doing his or her job.” I believe that if you don’t love what you are doing, there is no way you will continue, for any reason. 

If you are in a job that hinders your growth, learning, or development and does not add any value to you, it might be the right time to leave your comfort zone and head towards the ambitious, broad road. On the contrary, if you are providing great efforts and valuable contributions to a job, yet your hard work is taken for granted and unappreciated, do not wait for long. I advise you to let go.

I must admit that I have always been an overachiever, an overthinker, and a perfectionist. I always thought I could do better, and the best is yet to come. Not only that, but I am ready to do all I can for the sake of doing and finalizing something I admire. Nevertheless, I started to learn through my journey that nothing is perfect, and sometimes one should take a break to think clearly and to see the whole picture. I remember facing problems during lab work, writing, or doing different tasks. Despite all the focus, efforts, and trials I tried to solve this problem, nothing worked. The irony here is that sometimes when I relax and let go of thinking about this problem, I usually find a very bright idea or a solution for the problem I struggled to solve. Sometimes I find the answer during a walk, reading, or even sleeping. Sometimes I even dream of the solution. Blocking is a common problem that happens due to overthinking that could be solved by letting go of the action you are taking for a while until your mind is clearer. 

There is a thin line between surrendering and knowing when to let go. Surrender comes from a position of defeat, where I do not have the capacity to do something. On the other hand, letting go comes from a position of strength. It is a decision you take after a great fight, giving all you can, and then choosing to relieve yourself of burdens that may sink you. Letting go is a hard yet brave decision. If it is taken at the correct time, it may lead to the dawn of new possibilities and opportunities. Letting go is not an invitation to abandon goals or plans. On the contrary, do not think about letting go as a losing experience; it is more of a proactive and intentional action you should take after doing all you can in a situation, whether professional or personal. It is fine-tuning our mindset, our priorities, and the way we engage with our desires and the world. We regain the balance and harmony between our actions, consequences, determination, and return. Give yourself a chance to create a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life. It is a great experience that will lead to more gains than losses.