Use by December 8th.
Best before January 5th.
Sell by 10/02/2023.
While formats may vary, expiration dates are seen on food across the aisles. It gives us guidance on when food is safe, and when we should exercise caution before consumption. Food after the expiration date tends to smell, show signs of mold, or contain other concerning implications. Nevertheless, expiration dates allow us to let go of outdated food.
Why don’t we have expiration dates in other areas of our lives?
How often have you held onto an item out of obligation?
How about a relationship, an assumption, or a negative thought pattern that was causing discontent in your life?
Sometimes we cling onto these things in hopes that we can fix them or that we’ll be inconsiderate by letting them go. But if we focus on holding on, we prevent ourselves from moving on. If you climb a ladder but never let go of the first rung, how do you expect to get to the second? Making progress requires us to continually hold on, let go, and assess which one is best in any given situation.
Have a personal project you keep procrastinating on? Put an expiration date on it. Seeking to connect with a friend you haven’t spoken to in years? Place an expiration date on that too.
Keeping to-dos, projects, and possessions in perpetuity continue to clutter our minds. Placing expiration dates brings ideas to a tangible state. We either act on it or let it go. Expiration dates let us toss out old food, thoughts, and projects so we have space to bring in the new.
–
If you found value in this post, please consider buying me a coffee.