Aim, Tension, and Release -Slingshots and Life Decisions 

What do slingshots have in common with work and life decisions? More than you might think. As a kid, I found a lot of joy in slingshots; watching a pebble or a marble flying away landing on an empty Coke can or an exploding window on some old building. However, as an adult, despite loving its original purpose, I realized that the mechanism of a slingshot serves as a metaphor for our life and work choices. 

1. Holding too tight for too long

Have you ever had a situation in your life when you wanted something, more than you cared to admit, and you waited until everything was perfect and aligned, you mustered all the confidence and security you needed to only be too late to actually take action? The opportunity was gone, your circumstances had changed and now it’s either impossible or way harder? 

As with a slingshot, sometimes in life, we know our target but hold onto it, frozen with fear of missing. The what-ifs flood us “What if I fail? What if I can't make it?” Suffocating under these anxious thoughts, we continue to pull the slingshot back but never release it. But there's danger in letting this tension hold for too long; our arm starts to tire, the target might move, or worse, the elastic might snap rendering our efforts useless. 

A slingshot is useless without release. It's the whole purpose of its existence. And so are our efforts and preparations. They become futile if we don't dare to take the leap, and action when it’s time.

In one of my experiences, I was mentoring a person who always dreamt of starting their own business. She was quite aware of what came with that — running a business meant taking on many responsibilities, dealing with uncertainty, and the likelihood of imbalances between personal and professional life. 

Despite being well-prepared, she continually delayed launching her business idea by over-planning and over-analyzing. When a crucial project opportunity came up, her hesitation to take risks led to a missed chance. Reflecting on this in our sessions she realized that this overpreparation was just a mechanism to deal with the fear of failure. Keeping the elastic tight.

We need to remember the importance of embracing uncertainty, releasing the 'slingshot', and seizing opportunities as they come, otherwise, we risk missing out on them entirely.

2. Aiming at Too Many Targets 

On other occasions, we might be ready and (too) eager to release that stone, but we have too many targets or perhaps don't even have a clear one. You want to shoot it, and quick, but have no idea where to shoot it. You keep anxiously looking for a target because you need to shoot this rock. Blinded by the desperate need to hit something (aka change), we might end up hitting the wrong targets, which backfires with consequences we didn't ask for. Like aiming at a Coke can, but hitting a rabid dog instead, that runs towards you for revenge.

Excitement and impatience fuel our need for change and action. But we struggle to make a focused, deliberate choice. We hit a target, more out of reaction than reflection. 

This is the dilemma we often encounter when we yearn for change without reflection. We react, we make decisions, and then we face the aftershock of our reactive choices. Exposing that they were not the solution we had hoped they would be.

I've had a client who, dealing with conflicts at his job, has convinced himself that changing their workplace was the solution. So he changed jobs and organizations, to only land in similar situations. Frustrated with the loop of events they seek my support. During this process, he delved deep into his real needs, leading to a profound realization. This wasn’t about changing jobs for the sake of it, but about landing in the right place, and refining his strategy and approach.

These days, he is with an organization that aligns more closely with his values and preferred working style, without those earlier issues. The changes he made were intentional and thoughtful. 

It's okay not knowing. It’s okay to feel uncertain. In the face of deep uncertainty, the best you can do is to make a conscious choice. Driven by a clear understanding of your targets.

Identifying the right target, aiming with intention, and releasing at the right moment are as crucial in life as they are when playing with a slingshot.

So, as you hold your metaphorical slingshot and prepare your shot, make sure to pick the right target. Don't aim at random. Understand that it's okay to consider multiple targets, as long as your aim is intentional and not just out of desperation. And remember, when you have your target set, take your shot, before it's too late. 

Free the power of your sling - it's much stronger than you think!