St. Jude was the patron saint of lost causes.  I know these things because I grew up Catholic and my parents were Beatles fans.  In life, we all have a soft spot for the underdog or the person who just can’t get it together and we enable them by constantly dragging them, kicking and screaming, into success. 

But do they ever really become successful?

Often, we want it for them more than they want it for themselves.  Like everyone else, I’ve made this mistake with these people in my life.  You see potential or maybe just pity them and if you could just spend a little more time with them- you know you can turn them around.  More often than not, the investment of your time does not yield the results you thought it would.  This person becomes a “life bandit”.  They steal your time, energy, resources, (sometimes your money) and almost always break your heart. 

Don’t be St. Jude.

You can’t want it more than they do and you have to know when to let go.  It’s a cold hearted thing to do, but often these people are impeding your success both in life and in your career.  For ladies, it might be the guy you just can’t change. Guys-it’s the buddy that just wants to be miserable, but is upset because you don’t want to be miserable with them.  In your career, it could be the employee who does something good once in a while and that one success is what keeps them off the chopping block. Those people will most likely be the weakest member of the team and will almost always bring the group down. 

(Family is different.  You can’t rid them from your life like you would a friend or co-worker….so, for this blog, we’ll keep your brother out of it.) 

Know when to lance the cancer.  You don’t need or deserve it and this person is not healthy for your life.  Sometimes by letting go, it’s the best things that could ever happen to that person.  Perhaps, because you are no longer an enabler, they have to stand on their own two feet.  They just might realize that it’s time for them to take ownership of their life and embrace the consequences. 

Maybe.

You’ll never know unless you let go.

Hey Jude, “Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders”. 

#beatles #heyjude #catholic