Race cars have the best brakes on earth. Knowing how to stop is what lets you go fast.

Control is what makes speed usable. Without a reliable way to stop, any pace above cautious becomes reckless, so the limiting factor is almost never the engine. The same holds for a life, where the ability to say no and to end things is what makes it safe to accelerate.

Look at your brakes before you look at your ambitions. Practice ending one thing cleanly this month, whether a commitment, a conversation, or a project that is already finished. The better you get at stopping, the more you can afford to start.