In Brief: Essential Insights for Post-Military Transition
21 Aug 2023 · 5 min
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In this In Brief podcast episode, Jordana Megonigal, CEO of the Recon Network, addresses veterans navigating the post‑military transition. She explains the crucial distinction between "quitting" and "letting go," describing quitting as a fear‑driven, reactive decision that stems from avoidance of pain, whereas letting go is a conscious, proactive choice rooted in clarity, strength, and alignment with personal values and purpose. Jordana emphasizes that letting go does not equal giving up; instead, it involves recognizing when something no longer fits one's vision or the current season of life. She outlines a decision‑making framework that starts with deep self‑awareness—knowing one's life vision, purpose, and the season one is in—to determine whether to stay, quit, or let go. The episode offers practical guidance for veterans to assess their situations, align actions with their legacy, and move forward without being hindered by outdated roles or expectations.
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This is In Brief. Let's get to it. Hey there, and welcome back to the In Brief podcast. Each week we take a few minutes to dive into a new topic. Hopefully it makes your post-military transition a little bit easier and gives you a new perspective to take into the week. I'm Jordana. I'm the CEO of the Recon Network, and this week we're talking about Letting go. If you're currently in the transition process, or if you've ever been, then you know what it feels like to put an end to something. For one reason or another, you decided at some point that leaving military service was the best decision for you and maybe even those around you, and you shifted out of it. Some may say that you quit. Others say that you moved on. And while there's a lot of different ways to say the same thing, Basically that you aren't in the military anymore. There is a significant difference that you should note for the future. There's a big difference between quitting and letting go, and it's really important to understand the difference. Quitting has gotten a bad reputation. No one wants to be seen as a quitter, and because of that, too many of us hold on too long to situations that don't serve us or fulfill us. Or they make us miserable. But even so, there's a time and a place for dropping something from your life, and it doesn't necessarily make you a quitter. In fact, it may mean just the opposite, that you're taking a big step forward in making your life more meaningful. So real quick, let's break down the differences, which are primarily comprised of how we approach and respond to a situation. So if we're talking about quitting, Quitting is a decision that is often made out of fear or frustration. It's a way of avoiding the pain or discomfort of continuing to try. When we quit, we're essentially giving up. Often we're telling ourselves internally that we're not capable of achieving what we want. Essentially, quitting is being capable of doing something and really even wanting to do it, but being unwilling to push yourself to do it. Simply because you're avoiding the pain or frustration that it will take to continue failing in order to level up. Now, letting go, on the other hand, is a conscious decision. It's made out of clarity and strength. It's a way of acknowledging that something isn't working and taking the steps to change it. When we let go, we're not giving up on our goals or dreams. Instead, we're focused on our goals and dreams, and we're choosing to focus on something that is more aligned with our values And with our purpose. So in contrast to quitting, which is reactionary, letting go is proactive. It's saying, this is what I want for my life, and this thing does not fit into it anymore. I once had a friend who would say of people or things or situations, it's in your life for either a reason or a season. And I have to admit, once I started looking through things in that lens, It was a lot easier to let things go when they weren't part of my plan anymore. Leaving something behind doesn't mean you're giving up. It just means that you realize that not everything belongs there. And it doesn't matter if the thing was your life for 20 years, or if it's what your mom really wants you to be. What matters is how it fits for you and the life that you want to create. Of course, that means that being able To realize whether you'd be quitting something prematurely or letting something go in its time can be tricky. It all starts with knowing who you are and where you're going first. If you don't know your own vision for your own life, how can you determine if something fits or not? And if you don't know what season of life you're in, how can you say if something should stay or go? In a world that is constantly shifting, Knowing where you're headed and why is one of the most important forms of self-awareness that exists. It'll help guide you to making decisions like this easier and ensure that you're making choices that fit your overall vision for your life and your legacy, not just quitting because you're frustrated. So if this is you and you're really struggling with whether or not something belongs or whether or not to quit, take a look at yourself first. Where are you in your life? Where are you going? Does it fit or does it not? And if it doesn't, don't hesitate to let it go. It's not going to serve you by anchoring you to where you were.
