Remove What’s Holding You Back

A man asked a gardener why his plants grew so beautifully. The gardener said, “I don’t force them to grow. I remove what stops them.”

Growth isn’t something we make happen by sheer force of will. A plant doesn’t thrive because we demand it to. It grows because the conditions are right—because the weeds are pulled, the soil is rich, and the obstacles to its growth are removed. And maybe, just maybe, life works the same way.

We spend so much time trying to push ourselves forward. We chase more productivity, more success, more self-improvement. We make plans and set goals, believing that if we just work hard enough, happiness will follow. But what if personal growth isn’t about adding more to our lives? What if it’s about taking things away?

What if, instead of striving so hard to be better, we simply removed what’s holding us back?

Like the gardener who clears out weeds, we can step back and ask: *What is keeping me from growing?* Maybe it’s the clutter in our home that fills our minds with stress instead of peace. Maybe it’s the endless distractions that steal our time and energy, leaving us too drained to focus on what matters. Maybe it’s the fear of failure that keeps us playing small, afraid to step into something bigger.

Sometimes, we hold onto things that no longer serve us. A habit that numbs instead of nourishes. A relationship that drains rather than strengthens. A belief that keeps us stuck rather than moving forward. Letting go is hard, but clearing space is essential. We can’t grow if we’re weighed down by things that no longer belong.

When we stop focusing on forcing growth and instead focus on removing barriers, everything changes. Life feels lighter. There’s more room to breathe, more space to thrive. The energy that was once spent managing distractions and clutter can be redirected into things that actually bring us joy.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about creating the right conditions—removing what stifles us so that what’s meant to grow can flourish. Just like the gardener, our job isn’t to force growth. Our job is to make space for it.

Take a look at your life today. What is keeping you from growing? What can you remove? What could your life become if you simply cleared away the things that no longer serve you?