I’m all for staying and finishing the tough conversation. Or the seemingly unsolvable argument. Or the why-did-I-ever-commit-to-this project.
But there are times when the best thing to do is to walk away. Take a time out. Not forever … but for a time. A day or two. Several weeks, if need be.
If you’re in conflict with someone else, this walking away isn’t a time to re-arm yourself so that you can come back and prove yourself right. No. It’s a pause to reconsider avenues for reconciliation.
If you’re facing a problem that seems greater than you … that seems to be winning the day … then as today’s quote says, the problem will still be there when you get back. But you’ve taken time to regroup. To pray. To gather wisdom and insight from others who’ve been where you are now and won the battle. You’ve gathered the strength to try, try again.
Walking away isn’t always quitting. Sometimes walking away is the wise choice — the way toward strength.
In Your Words: When has walking away been the best choice for you — helping you to ultimately resolve a problem or better face a challenge?
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Comments 9
Even short weekend trips are so good for me, amazing natural beauty in even rocks, moss, and trees– uninterrupted time to hear and pull over and jot down new ideas. Peace and joy flood in. I guess what some people gain from good shopping trips I get from loving new things I see in creation, how it works, how He made it that way. I love understanding geography principles, and then He says He can help me understand more of the way I work, too. 🙂
Author
I agree that short trips — even a day away — is good for regaining strength and perspective.
There have been times when walking away from a tense situation with my kids has helped. Or when hubby comes home after a long trip and lets me go away for a couple days. I always come back refreshed and with more patience.
And, when it comes to writing, sometimes taking time away from my story helps me come back to it with a renewed perspective and fresh ideas.
And on occasion, in outside-the-family relationships, a little time away allows me to renew my perspective, smooth out the rough edges of the feelings and see that person in a more gracious light.
Great post, Beth!
Author
All good examples, Jeanne.
I’m about to walk away to a cruise. lol. Hoping to come back refreshed and able to finish this book due January 4. Also to sort out how I got into so many blogs. Must.Get.Organized. oh, and: Must.Learn.how.to.say.NO.
Author
A cruise … oh, savor every minute, Pat! 🙂
I would love to read your book Beth. Loved the interview and I have also learned, never say never. Haha
This quote and post are ones I can really relate to, Beth. It’s almost always best for me to walk away. I get kind of crazy when I feel unsafe in a conversation or a situation. Clearing my head, which means putting space between me and them, usually works. Most of the time it doesn’t take that long. A couple of times, thought, it took years. 🙂 But that’s just me.
Author
I can understand that the duration of walking away is sometimes longer than we ever anticipate.
I’m in that season right now, as you know.