Pruning

Happy Saturday, I hope your week was great and that you have optimistic thoughts for the week ahead. Have you ever really thought about the word pruning and what it means? I have in various times in my life, from gardening to people. In gardening, pruning means cutting away dead or overgrown stems, branches, or dead produce. When it comes to people, pruning is synonymous; it means removing people or reducing interactions.

Pruning is crucial because it eliminates people pulling on you or things that add extra weight to your life; it protects the things that are still living and blooming. But there is another side to pruning; when there is an overgrowth, it should also be pruned. For example, when it recently rained several days in Austin, my plants produced more peppers than usual; of course, I was happy, but the rain also gave life to the weeds. If I did not pull them by the root and treat them, they could take all the nutrients from my plants.

The same goes with certain people, it does not mean that they are wrong, but they can suck out all the air in the room if you let them grow in environments, they are not supposed to be in. Pruning should not be punitive, as it can enhance your future growth and opportunities. It is never too early or too late to prune in your life. I recently went on a trip out of the country, and my 14-year-old daughter was assigned to care for six of my plants; upon arriving home, I noticed my leaves were limp, and the dirt was extremely dry. She forgot to water the plants for four days. Initially, I thought they were goners, but I paused and attempted to revive the plants I spent months caring for before pulling them and throwing them out.

I cut all the lifeless, dull, and dying leaves. I removed the shriveled-up pieces, then watered the plants, and the next day, I gave them a little CPR: coffee grinds in water. Over the next several days, I checked on them, and they were close to normal by day four. The lesson is that you do not always give up on people or things; slowly prune, adjust, and adapt and you may be surprised by the growth that can occur. Just like some plants should not be pruned for maximum output, some people in your life may teach you important life lessons and are supposed to stay. Life and people are not always a bed of roses. Strive to focus on enjoying the fruitful seasons of your relationship and the dormant times.

Everything has seasons, and we have to be able to recognize when something's time has passed and be able to move into the next season. Everything that is alive requires pruning as well, which is a great metaphor for endings.

-Henry Cloud

Speaking of dormant, in our jobs, relationships, and life as a whole, we must understand the saying, "April showers bring May flowers" there is a time and place to do certain things, make necessary changes, and blossom. You do not sit and watch plants grow; it's a process that needs several things to do so; water, sun, soil, and TLC. So, if plants need elements to grow and blossom, don’t you think you do? The challenge this week is to stop and ask yourself the following questions:

·????????What seeds am I planting in my life? (Think of the seeds you plant with your family, friends, and at your job)

·????????Am I giving attention to those seeds by pruning at the correct times? Then, after pruning, am I nurturing those things that need it?

·????????Am I carrying too heavy a load that I can no longer grow?

Pruning allows people to reduce their loads and focus on the present temporarily. Just like the plants mentioned in this article, our lives need good pruning. Put aside time to evaluate your life, where you are now, and where you want to go. A recent GALLUP survey indicates that more than ever, people are unhappy, burnt out, and stressed out. It is time to cut bait if something or someone is causing you to feel any of these emotions. So, begin your pruning process to receive incredible benefits such as higher levels of peace, reduced stress, fruitful harvest, better energy flow, and positive energy. The con is that people may get their feelings hurt, but it is not your job to manage the emotions of others.

Now, begin your journey to better bloom, flourish and live. Keep in mind that pruning is not a punishment; it is a reward. Pruning can encourage a plentiful harvest. Happy pruning season!?