In visiting with some family members this weekend they were telling me about the swimming classes their daughter took as a child. It seemed that she was a good young swimmer but lacked confidence in letting go of the wall to swim out into the pool.
Her mom and swim instructor eventually recognized that she really did know how to swim but she was still afraid to let go of the wall. They gave her an important message — “You will have to let go of the wall.” She did, and this became a mantra for other things her life that she still uses as a successful college student.
In a few weeks my new book, The Resilience Advantage will be out and available for purchase. This feels like a “leaving the wall” moment as I promote my resilience model through this book release. I’ve gotten some great early reviews on the book. Here is one of them.
“The Resilience Advantage is packed with practical techniques for turning life’s unavoidable stresses into power packs that propel you forward in the areas you care most deeply about. Whether it’s rebuilding a relationship, achieving a significant career goal or upping your performance to play your best, this book has tactics and strategies that will help you get better results in every area of life.”
Seth Kahan,
Author of Getting Change Right and Getting Innovation Right
© Richard Citrin, All rights reserved, 2016
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6 thoughts on “Leave the Wall”
Your post today reminded me of something very similar that I wanted to share. I was having major issues in my marriage and was in the process of deciding how to move forward. During that time I was going to water aerobics at the local YMCA. One evening, while the class was going on in one side of the pool; there was a group of young swimmers jumping off the diving board for the first time. It was so interesting to watch how each of them reacted. A few just went to the end of the board and jumped in; some went to the end of the board and stood there until they had the courage to jump in; some had their mother come to the edge of the pool where they were jumping before they jumped, some reached down and held the instructors hand who was in the pool before they jumped; some turned around and never did jump that evening. It was such a powerful image of exactly what I was feeling about ‘jumping into’ a divorce from my husband. (My therapist gave me homework after my next session – I had to jump into the pool to exercise instead of using the steps into the pool) I still think about that evening when challenged with tough decisions or times in my life.
Jane, thanks for sharing your story and congrats for jumping into your new life
I have left the wall several times in my personal and professional lives. Not from fear, but rather more from feeling I wanted more from life than what I was getting. I could have remained in relationships or jobs that were not full filling my sense that there is more to life and work than waiting for the”golden years or retirement to finally do what I wanted to do. That’s a risk as who knows what your health or mind will be like in 20 or 40 years. So my relationship or job changes to explore the unknown may result in loneliness or monetary loss and more boredom, or I could find more happiness and financial success. I don’t regret any of my decisions to leave the wall. They all made my personal and financial status better.
Thanks Bert for your comments. I know your story and you have shown much courage in stepping into new worlds!
Richard, I love your website. Bert
Thanks Bert!!