Growth 4 min read Monkey Bars Sometimes you have to let go to move on. (Photo: flickr.com) Do​ ​you​ ​remember​ ​playing​ ​on​ ​the​ ​monkey​ ​bars​ ​as​ ​a​ ​kid? You​ ​likely​ ​reached​ ​out​ ​with​ ​a​ ​mixture​ ​of​ ​fear​ ​and​ ​excitement​ ​as​ ​you​ ​faced​ ​the​ ​uncertainty​ ​of shifting​ ​from​ ​one​ ​rail​ ​to​ ​the​ ​next. Once​ ​you​ ​crossed​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​set​ ​of​ ​monkey​ ​bars,​ ​though, your​ ​confidence​ ​soared​ ​and​ ​you​ ​were​ ​eager​ ​you​ ​to​ ​do​ ​it​ ​all​ ​over​ ​again. As​ ​it​ ​turns​ ​out,​ ​crossing​ ​the​ ​monkey​ ​bars​ ​is​ ​the​ ​perfect​ ​analogy​ ​for​ ​advancing​ ​your​ ​personal​ ​and professional​ ​life. In​ ​order​ ​to​ ​move​ ​on,​ ​you​ ​have​ ​to​ ​let​ ​go. Just​ ​like​ ​the​ ​monkey​ ​bars,​ ​you​ ​can’t​ ​move​ ​forward​ ​to​ ​the​ ​next​ ​station​ ​in​ ​life​ ​unless​ ​you​ ​free​ ​one hand​ ​of​ ​its​ ​current​ ​commitments​ ​and​ ​reach​ ​for​ ​the​ ​next opportunity.​ ​While​ ​that​ ​free​ ​hand​ ​grabs for​ ​the​ ​following​ ​rail,​ ​your​ ​other​ ​hand​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​anchor​ ​you​ ​to​ ​the​ ​present​ ​until​ ​you​ ​have​ ​landed at​ ​your​ ​new​ destination. In​ ​life,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​aim​ ​for​ ​what​ ​you​ ​want​ ​while​ ​keeping​ ​in​ ​mind​ ​your​ ​current​ ​situation​ ​so​ ​to not​ ​overshoot​ ​and​ ​fall​ ​off​ ​course. It​ ​takes​ ​timing​ ​and​ ​coordination,​ ​courage​ ​and​ ​faith.​ ​​ ​But​ ​if​ ​you​ ​let​ ​go,​ ​reach​ ​forward​ ​and​ ​grab hold​ ​of​ ​your​ ​goals,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​experience​ ​the​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​joy​ ​typically ​reserved​ ​for​ ​the​ ​playground. Most Popular Share your voice Related Q & A with TD Jakes How do you know when you're wasting time? Growth 1 min read Ignore The Turtles Let trolls be trolls. Growth 1 min read How to Repair Your Broken Friendships Some friends are worth the fight. Growth 4 min read