Necessary Endings

Necessary Endings is a guide to change that explains how you can get rid of unwanted behaviors, events, and people in your life and use the magic of new beginnings to build a better life.

Have you ever pruned a tree or bush? It seems strange to cut something back but is actually remarkable when you think about the purpose. We prune things to help them grow more healthy, vibrant, and beautiful. A rose bush, for example, will grow healthier and more colorful when pruned properly.

To prepare for slashing out of your life that which holds you back, think of your life like a rose bush. Imagine all the health and happiness you will achieve by making those necessary steps to move forward in your life. Just like that gardener pruning his rosebush thinks of the beautiful end result he seeks, you should do the same.

Take some motivation from Jack Welch, author of Winning and former CEO of General Electric. His cutbacks involved layoffs and canceling unproductive business ventures. The result was the market value of the company rising from $14 billion to $410 billion. GE also become one of the top in its market.

One additional tip for making endings easier is to see them as good and natural parts of life. We too often look to shearing the baggage from our lives as negative and something to avoid. But remember our rose bush analogy. Without pruning the bush grows unruly and may even die from disease and pests. Don’t let that be your fate!

The reason endings are so difficult is that they require us to change. We’d like to stay in our comfort zones, making improvements only when completely necessary. We either need the fear of continuing forward or the opportunity of something greater to push us. What works best is when we feel that it’s urgent to get out of our current situation. Imagine you are the CEO of a business that sells chairs. Your company is barely staying afloat, but you’re managing alright. One day, an employee notifies you of a rival whose prices are lower and chairs are better. Wouldn’t that light a fire under you to cut off your current supplier in favor of a better one? For a more personal approach, spend some time in front of the mirror. Literally, go stand at the mirror and look honestly at yourself. What does it feel like to be where you’re at right now? Take some time to really reflect. Feel, smell, and imagine your current state. Then, look to your future. Can you imagine taking everything you’re feeling right now with you? Let that dissatisfaction you now feel fuel your movement…