Have you ever made a small mistake that felt like a huge one?

I just had that experience this week and it felt like a punch in the gut.

And it’s all about a bonsai tree.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that no one is good at everything.

I’ve joked for years that although I’m very skilled at changing people’s lives, I’m lucky if I can change a lightbulb.

(And if you’re interested in learning how to change lives, stick around to the end of this message.)

I just never took an interest in fixing things around the house.

Well, it turns out that there’s something else I’m not very good with...

and it’s taking care of plants.

In fact, I’m highly-skilled at accidentally killing them.

Which hasn’t been a huge problem as I largely avoided the issue.

My late wife Shelli was the opposite.

In fact, she was highly-skilled at what’s called ikebana - Japanese flower design.

She was known as The Flower Sculptor.

The first time she came to my home, it was to create an arrangement.

And all throughout our time together, she kept our home beautiful by bringing in lots of plants and taking excellent care of them.

Last year around this time, some friends gave me a beautiful bonsai tree to keep in memory of Shelli.

And because I knew I didn’t have a green thumb, I made a point of learning how to properly take care of it.

I took pictures of it and shared them with one of those AI’s (Claude).

It told me how often to give it water and where to place it outside.

And I made a reminder on my phone - every day - that said “check the bonsai.”

And for the next 12 months, I did.

I’d peek out the window and look.

Take pics and share with Claude.

Give it water when it didn’t get enough rain.

And believe it or not, it was doing great!

Until about 3 days ago.

I went outside to look and the branches had begun to dry and fade.

I took a picture and Claude told me it wasn’t looking good.

We had a little drought here in Georgia during the past couple weeks.

And that little bonsai tree had been doing so well that I must’ve taken my eye off the ball.

Because I only gave it water a couple times.

And now it might be on its way out.

Which normally wouldn’t be a big deal.

But this tree was in memory of the love of my life.

I was supposed to take care of it in honor of her.

And all it took was two weeks of nice weather to undo a year of excellent care.

I’m not gonna kid you, I was really upset.

Even dropped a few f-bombs talking to Claude.

I couldn’t believe it looked so sick so quickly.

And ultimately, I realized why I was so angry...

This was a reminder that life is very fragile.

Something I now know all too well.

And it felt like I’d let her down.

Then, after a few minutes, I did a thing I’ve learned to do in these situations.

I imagined what I would say to Shelli if she made a similar mistake.

I’d tell her that it was okay... that what’s important isn’t the tree - it’s remembering the person who was lost.

And I imagined what she would tell me if she could... that she knows I love her and just didn’t have much experience taking care of plants.

Look, the tree’s fate is yet to be decided.

I’m going to do my best to save it.

But if it happens to be too little, too late...

I’ll find a new one to honor her and do a better job taking care of it.

That move I just described - imagining what I’d say to her, then what she’d say to me - wasn’t something I came up with in the moment.

It’s a technique. One of the ones I teach.

I’ve been using it on myself and with clients for 23 years and more than 15,000 sessions.

Because whether it’s a bonsai tree or the person it was meant to honor, how you deal with loss can be the difference between living a happy life or spending endless hours feeling depressed, angry or resentful.

So if you’re interested in learning how to help yourself and others in this way, here’s what’s coming.

Our next cohort of the Pure Hypnosis Certification Training is on the way - we’re targeting the spring of 2027 for the live portion of the training.

I’m currently hard at work creating the best and most efficient curriculum to ensure my students gain the skills to do this kind of work from Day One.

And we’ll be opening enrollment in the very near future.

If you want the dates, the curriculum and the pricing before the rest of the list gets them, put your name down here:

​Add me to the Spring 2027 list​

That’s the only thing I’m asking you to do today.

Have a wonderful week-

Sean