A recent stroll through my garden reminded me of a lesson from Dr. Henry Cloud in his book, “Necessary Endings.“ In it, Dr. Cloud offers a great analogy related to the need for pruning to stimulate healthy growth.
Be it personal, professional, individual or organizational, we all need to be good stewards and tend to our gardens. Dr. Cloud uses a rose bush to bring this idea to life. He explains that pruning is necessary at three critical points in the life of a rose bush (and the life of an individual or organization).
- Dead branches: Allowing dead branches (ideas, habits or resources) to remain attached simply hinders the growth of the other branches. Do you have any dead branches getting in the way of your greatness?
- Sick or diseased branches: These branches are not likely to recover and continued investment in them is not only futile but draws time, energy and investment away from those that are ready to bloom. Dr. Cloud challenges us to take an honest inventory by asking us to identify the “dysfunctional, unproductive areas in our lives and organizations that are siphoning off resources and keeping us from blooming in a maximum way.”
- Healthy buds: I will admit that this type of pruning seemed counter intuitive to me. Dr. Cloud explains that left unattended, a healthy rose bush will produce more buds than it can sustain. Put simply, too much of a good thing can kill you!
After reading this a few times, I got it!
WHEN WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING, WE OFTEN DO NOTHING WELL.
Although it may be hardest to identify and chose which healthy buds to prune, it is vital to the long-term health of a rose bush, an individual or an organization. Knowing where and when to cut back may be the ultimate key to avoiding burn out. Most folks with gifts, talents and passion can do anything, but they can’t do everything!
So. . . if you are hoping to grow, sharpen your sheers (and watch out for the thorns)!
