End Well to Begin Well

As the year draws to a close, it’s a good time to evaluate your current status in life. How are things working for you? Are there some things you need to change? Things you need to let go of so that you can begin anew? What do you need to end?

Dr. Henry Cloud, author of the book, “Necessary Endings,” says that, “Getting to the next level always requires ending something, leaving it behind, and moving on. Growth itself demands that we move on. Without the ability to end things, people stay stuck, never becoming who they are meant to be, never accomplishing all that their talents and abilities should afford them.”

Do you want to get to the next level in your career, in your relationships, and in life? If so, evaluating where you are and what you need to do to change is a great way to close out the year. Doing so will help you start the new year with more mental clarity, mindfulness and positivity.

What About Your Home?

Are there necessary endings that need to take place in your home? Are there things you need to discard or change? Do you need to prune back some things in order to reap more? More space, more time, more joy, and more peace.

A clean and decluttered house can reduce your stress and anxiety levels and create room for mental wellness, clarity, and positivity.

Cleaning and organizing your home is a lot more than making your house look aesthetically pleasing. The process of cleaning and creating a functional, tranquil and peaceful sanctuary, actually allows you to let go of emotional baggage. Baggage that hinders you and your positive energy. When you take the time to thoughtfully and purposefully create a home that resonates positive energy and promotes growth, you will make space for new ideas and experiences. And, new paths.

If there are necessary endings that need to take place in your home (and in your life), it is time to prune. Begin the pruning process by identifying what you need to give up in order to move forward. Dr.. Henry Cloud says, “You can’t prune toward anything if you don’t know what you want. You have to figure out what you are trying to build and then define what the pruning standards are going to be.” So, start with asking yourself some questions:

1. Are you spending your resources in the right places and in the right proportions?
2. Are you holding onto material things that are extraneous, broken, or lifeless?

Identify what you want (or don’t want) in your home and then tell yourself that endings are necessary. Healthy. Normal. Remember, the good cannot happen until the bad ends. You have to prune back some of the good for what is best.

Are you ready to do what is necessary to to get to the next level in your home (and in your life)? If so, remove the unwanted or superfluous. Prune things that are taking resources away from something with more promise. Your ability to make necessary endings will create space in your heart, your mind, and in your home. Endings aren’t easy, but they are necessary – necessary so that something new and wonderful can emerge.

End the year well, so you begin well in 2024.