You will no longer be afraid to end something after reading these five things

I heard about a man who had a pet monkey with a long tail. His wife complained that its tail kept knocking off and breaking her dishes in the kitchen.

"I'll go cut it off," he said. His wife heard a "whack" outside and thought, "that's it." Then she listened to another "whack" and then another!

"What are you doing?" she yelled. The husband replied, "I can't stand cutting it off all at once, and I'm just cutting it off, AN INCH AT A TIME."

Don't do that. It's more hurtful!

What is the thing you are having a hard time ending?

1. Gather some OBJECTIVE PLAYERS with no stake in the game and ask their opinion.

Over time, you lose objectivity. It's not working, it has never worked, yet you continue to feed it your time and resources.

Listen to others. They see what hides from you. Your sentimentality and deep emotions at giving up your pet dream make it too hard for you to shut it down.

Listen to others.

2. Do you still want to live with that irritating problem when you are IN YOUR 90s?

How many more years do you have to live? What if you lived until you were 90 and looked up, and THERE WAS THAT PROBLEM!

Make up your mind, "I'm going with it." I want the rest of my life to be in peace without that "monkey's tail!"

3. Develop a plan of "severance" and give it a DATE AND TIME.

Circle a date on a calendar. Get those objective friends to help you work on the best plan for when and where to implement that plan.

That meeting may be painful, and you may feel a thousand emotions telling you to go back. If you have to, write your feelings and hand them in an envelope to read silently.

Discussion may be more straightforward when they read it all and then are free to discuss.

4. Refuse to be MANIPULATED.

"Don't doubt in the darkness what you heard in the light."

They may get sad or angry, and you should not "mirror" their emotions. You know what you need to do, and your calm emotions will help them gradually settle down.

It's the right thing for both of you; eventually, they will see the wisdom of your decision.

5. Assure them it is not PERSONAL.

Everyone wants to turn "reality" into "rejection." The truth is, it's not working, and they know it. They have not dared to tell you what you are telling them.

Tell them you are not rejecting them as a person or an idea. You love them personally but have decided that specific arrangements cannot succeed.

This relationship, this partnership, this employment, this "monkey's tail" has to end.

Do it soon and do it all at one time.

God will help you to do something challenging that is actually merciful.