Your Infinite Potential: Prune for New Growth

Pruning enhances the health and vigour of plants. Pruning provides extra energy reserves that quickly heal wounds and stimulate vigorous spring growth. Flowering plants and fruit trees are pruned to increase the yield of blossoms and fruit and to improve their quality, and getting rid of extraneous parts of the plant can direct energy to the more important areas.

As people, we spend so much of our life forming attachments to things, people, places, thoughts and emotions that our lives become overburdened with trivial things that really do not matter. Pruning the areas of our lives that no longer serve us may do us a wealth of good, just like it does for plants.

Part one of Your Infinite Potential: Living to the Max advocated giving focus to the things that really matter to us. But can we really reach our potential if we don’t let go of the superfluous parts of our lives? How can we add new growth, if we are burdened down with thoughts, people or things that are draining our energy with no actual purpose?

Last autumn I had a bit of revelation.  Becoming a recent empty-nester, I was looking for ways to fill the gaps in my life – areas where I can make an impact, try new things and be a better me.  The trouble was I didn’t know where I wanted to focus.  To gain some inspiration I attended the Happenista Retreat.  It was a great experience and gave me insights as well as space to think about future goals. One of the activities, led by Jackee Holder was to go on a nature walk. During some quiet time walking in the woods, I noticed a tree with one of its branches broken – perhaps from a storm. That branch was no longer alive; however it was still part of the tree. The tree was holding onto it, although it no longer served any purpose for that tree. I started thinking that perhaps there are things in my life that I am holding onto that I really don’t need.  By clearing away those things, it would clear the way for future personal growth.  

For some people this might be holding onto negative or outdated thoughts. For others it might be toxic relationships. For me it was disorganisation and clutter. We have been living in our home many years and have accumulated a great deal of ‘stuff’. Much of this ‘stuff’ we don’t use or even remember we have. I decided to devote several weekends to ‘Project Declutter’.

It wasn’t easy.

Sometimes I felt undue sentimentality when discovering long forgotten items. Sometimes I just couldn’t be bothered.  Most of the time I would rather be doing something else. But we struggled through. And each minimalised room gave a sense of accomplishment and freedom. Of course, I am not finished – I don’t know if I ever will be.  And I didn’t get rid of everything – just the things that either don’t serve a purpose or don’t make me happy.  Ridding this clutter from my life helped to make me more focused, relaxed and productive. It helped me to have the mental energy and creativity to be prepared for fresh opportunities and accept new growth.

So, why do we hold on?

If our lives are too crowded with ideas, things or relationships we don’t need – why do we continue to hold on to them?

• We don’t notice our needs have changed - As we grow and move into new phases in our lives, we often don’t need the items or the beliefs we once did. From a negative comment a teacher may have told you years ago to the books we read when we were in a different line of work, all these things can clutter up our minds and our homes.  We get used to things and don’t question whether they are still necessary.
• We fear the consequences –There is a comfort and perceived safety in what is familiar to us. Letting go of ideas, people or things that we are used to can cause a fear of the unknown – what if there is nothing to replace what we are letting go of? What if we need that relationship or item in the future?  Are there certain fond memories associated with it that you want to hold on to? Or can you recognise that this was in the past?
• We don’t know where to begin or don’t have the energy – Sometimes the task seems overwhelming.  It takes time and effort. There isn’t a magic formula or a right or wrong way. But you need to start somewhere. Break it down into smaller steps and realise that investing the energy now will have positive consequences and will build momentum. You just need to find that spark to get you started.

How to start?

1. Get clarity on what you want. What kind of life do you want to live?  What are the values you hold dear?  Know the qualities of people, places, and things that you desire so that you can identify them in your life and aim in that direction.
2. Be aware of what currently isn’t in alignment with you. Identify what is holding you back. Notice what’s just not working. What are the outdated things, people and thoughts you are living with that are not adding to where you want to go.  Is your mind, desktop or home so cluttered that you do not have energy or space for what you truly want?
3. Make choices with confidence. If you truly feel that it’s time to make a change, (and if you want to reach your potential it must be the time) then do so with all your heart. Make a move, let go of a clutter, or steer clear of limiting throughs and unhealthy influences, but do so confidently.
4. Have trust. Trust is so big when letting go. There may be a temporary void in your life but it will not be forever and remember that you are clearing the path for new growth. You just must trust it will happen.
5. Don’t give up!  Have patience, give yourself rewards and stay on your course. Keep creating space for growth, and forging onward to your infinite potential.

What are you holding onto? What don’t you need? What is holding you back? Where can you free up time, space or energy to encourage new growth?

This is the second in the series of Your Infinite Potential