I have known for many years that in order for new beginnings to open up, endings must happen. Whether this is in personal or business life, this axiom is generally true. The problem with most people, including myself, is that we dislike and fear change and taking risks.
There is a common saying that people should not burn bridges. The problem with that is that sometimes that is the only way to let go and ultimately move forward. Of course, there are upsides and downsides. One has to focus on the positives and upsides or the negatives and downsides can be overwhelming.
I have had some practice on “burning bridges” and making endings and new beginnings. And I am happy to say, as a whole, my decisions have been pretty good. Short term, they were inconvenient and sometimes painful, but ultimately a greater good and opportunity opened.
Without getting into specifics, there are some things happening in my life that are simultaneously ending and beginning. I am happy some of the circumstances and relationship are approaching their endings. It is a welcome relief. In fact, I have been looking for other things to end and leave behind. I want to “lighten the load”, if you will.
The people I want to “keep” are people who have been “of service” to me. They are solid people who are honest and stick to commitments they keep. Their “flake factor” is very low. The others are simply “needy and takers”. In other words, they only come around when they need something. Or there are other people who are simply lazy, unmotivated, and basically stuck in a rut. They are in a situation of their own creation and like pigs in a pile, they continue to wallow in the mud. You offer and try to give a helping hand out of the mud but ultimately they want you to do all the work to lift them out. That won’t happen here.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are people who are inspired, ambitious, go-getters, risk-takers, enlightened, and action-takers. I love and respect these types of people. And when these people run into each other, they tend to get along quite well. And the synergy they create is far greater than what the individuals can do.
I am not waiting until 2009 to prepare for it. I am in process of “cleaning house” both literally and figuratively. I am paring down the people I associate and correspond with. I am leaving and abandoning those projects that don’t work anymore. The unhealthy, fearful, lazy, unambitious, immature, and losers are left behind. Life moves a lot faster when you stick with other winners.
It feels really good to make the endings happen. It is amazing how quick, new people and opportunities open up. It is easy to fall into a rut especially when you have a lifestyle like mine. And so, I have to make a conscious effort to purge every so often. I have a great feeling that come the end of summer, most of the purging I have to do will be done which will open up the rest of 2009 for interesting and great new people and opportunities.
