Pruning to Maximize Value

Tending to your life tree is a pursuit that's all too often sidelined, allowing your world to become unsightly and ill-managed. As each main branch grows of its own accord without benefit of mindful support, it can curl back on itself, fork in too many directions or twist into a repetitive circle. Soon there are new sprigs sprouting from these branches that draw too much life force from the main stalk and ultimately weaken the whole plant. The outgrowth becomes so all-consuming that maintaining the shrub is a tremendous and often futile chore with little positive return.

The pruning process begins slowly and deliberately so you don't lop off large chunks of branches that belong in your life. Ask yourself what makes you most proud; what have you accomplished -- or continue to accomplish -- that has resonated beyond that one action? Raising self-supportive and socially aware children is at the top of many people's list and rightly so. But what else have you done that speaks to your own unique gift to the world?

Did you choose a vocation that in and of itself betters the planet or human relations? Have you volunteered your time or talent? Are you involved with a weekly book club that encourages you to expand your own horizons? Do you follow through on your promises? Efforts need not be huge in order to make an indelible impact.

What I'm most proud of/grateful for is the humility that's allowed me to make a small difference. Saving lives through animal rescue tops the list of what I call the George Bailey effect: start the ripple and it turns into a tidal wave of good. I'm blessed with a philanthropic bent that helps me see things beyond my own myopic perspective and offer ways to improve others' lives, whether that's physically, emotionally or financially.

Simplicity and minimalism have become increasingly important. Quality over quantity. Personal choice over social mandate. I no longer have any interest in owning another home. Living and traveling in an RV has always appealed to me but even more now as my sights are set on downsizing. That type of free lifestyle has come to represent the epitome of embracing what's truly important.

Laura Filbert has some additional insights on her blog about how and what to prune on our tree of life.

Read more about pruning certain people from your tree in my past post Clicking the "Unfriend" Button in Real Life.

"Tree of Life" painting by Tim Parish

Photo by Val Kerry