Necessary Endings (Archive - Episode 3)
Necessary Endings (Archive - Episode 3)

Relational Recovery

Wes Thompson and Austin Hill talk about necessary endings in relationships and habits, clarifying the difference between evil, foolish and ignorant behaviour. They reframe failure as a chance for growth and highlight the value of a growth mindset in recovery.

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8:34•21 Jun 2026

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Necessary Endings: Wisdom, Failure and Letting Go in Recovery

Episode Overview

Evil behaviour is rare; most people are either foolish at times or simply ignorant and learning.
A fool is described as someone who keeps doing the same harmful things and does not care about the damage.
“Failing well” means ending what is not working and choosing to do something better instead.
Failure is framed as feedback for growth, not proof that someone is a failure as a person.
A growth mindset focuses on what can be learned from pain, while a limiting mindset focuses only on the pain itself.

“Failing well means ending something that's not working and choosing to do something else better.”

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This conversation from Relational Recovery zooms in on what it means to end unhealthy patterns and relationships, especially for those working through unwanted behaviours and addictions from a Christian and psychological perspective. Wes Thompson and Austin Hill take a calm, honest look at the difference between evil, foolish and ignorant behaviour.

They make it clear that true “evil” is rare, while most people are “doing the best they can with what they have”, even if they act foolishly at times. Their chat offers relief for anyone worried they’re a “fool” just because they mess up, stressing that a fool keeps repeating harmful behaviour and “doesn’t really care”, whereas someone who’s trying to learn is already on a wiser path.

The heart of the episode is the idea of “necessary endings” in relationships and habits. Drawing from Henry Cloud, Wes reads, “Failing well means ending something that’s not working and choosing to do something else better.” From there, the two unpack how failure can be reframed as feedback, not a verdict on someone’s worth.

Austin reflects on people saying, “I just feel like a failure all the time,” and gently separates failing at something from being a failure as a person. They also bring in a growth mindset idea: a wise person asks, “What can I learn from this pain?” instead of only focusing on how bad it feels. Pain, they suggest, is unavoidable, but staying stuck in the same pattern is optional.

This episode suits anyone in recovery who’s wrestling with boundaries, endings and the fear of being “the bad guy” for stepping away from damaging situations. It’s thoughtful, down-to-earth, and just humorous enough to keep things from feeling too heavy. Where might a necessary ending actually be an act of wisdom in your life?

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