The best advice: Hug and release

Today I want to share with you some really good advice I got from a friend of mine. She is an accountant by training and now works for a family foundation (a wealthy family who is giving away some of their money via charitable giving).

She told me several years that she often finds herself being approached for money on behalf of the foundation. However, the foundation giving priorities are already laid out - they generally fund things such as pancreatic cancer research and children's health (I think? The particulars don't matter for this example). If she gets a request from someone in person or in writing for a cause that is not aligned with the foundation's mission, she said,

"I just hug and release."

What did she mean? She will give the requesting party a metaphorical hug about the good work they are doing and the importance of whatever cause they are making a request on behalf of and the kindly decline the ask for funding.

And then... Release!

She releases herself from any obligation or thoughts of feeling bad or thinking that this particular foundation needs to help allllll the people.

I love this simple metaphor so much!

What can you hug and release in your life? In dating? In your relationships? In the expectations other people have for you?

If someone or something is not a good fit for you, do you allow yourself to 'hug and release'?

Try it and report back! Need help? I got you!