(Principles are basic truths that, when applied, cause success to come to you easier and quicker.)
Attachment seems to be pretty common in the human condition.
Attachment comes about when we decide that an outcome has to happen in a certain way. Said another way, we become attached to the outcome. Then when it doesn’t happen “our way” we feel bad.
Attachment is the basis of much conflict between people, but here the focus is on the inner conflict you feel when you don’t get an outcome you wanted/expected/desired/required. That conflict is because your sense of self-worth is tied up in getting the outcome. You’ve become attached.
In attachment you become less free. You are not free to choose to change your mind, nor free to seek input from others. In fact, when attached, it’s common to “dig in your heels” and resist any alternatives.
How do you get out of this trap? When you first start defining an outcome, you want to seek as many different ways as you can imagine for the outcome to occur. Even look for outside ideas. The more ways you can get to the outcome you want, the less you will be attached a single way.
Multiple possible outcomes minimize attachment.
Coaching Point: What is one outcome you’re attached to right now?
Copyright 2006 Steve Straus. All rights reserved.