Today Pope Benedict XVI said he’s resigning.
A life-long appointment as the leader of the Catholic church just gave his notice that he’s no longer willing or able to continue full-speed ahead on the current course.
Good for him.
Whatever reasons he has personally, he knew he wasn’t going to be able to complete his commitment. He renegotiated the agreements with himself and others close to him.
Better to make the hard decisions now than wait until it’s too late.
What agreements have you made with yourself or others that need renegotiating? Are you dreading something because the time has long past since you got any value from it? Are there roles or responsibilities you currently have that are bringing you dread thinking about them?
Not every one of your roles is a lifetime appointment. Give yourself permission to resign from those that are forces of habit and no longer bringing you joy.
Yes people are often prisoeners of agreement they made with themselves and it includes subconscious agreements as well.
Like this greatly when I first read it, just now getting around to dropping a comment on it.
I’m not a religious fella, but for a pope to break with around 600 years of convention, I can’t help but feel that’s admirable… if done for the right reasons.
(Given what I’ve read about some of the possible causes for his resignation, I’d completely understand the motive… though it could be a little Lethal Weapon “I’m getting to old for this…”)
Still, whatever the case, as you say, it provides food for thought.