I had a painful experience the other day that reminded me of the dangers of procrastination. A few weeks ago, I saw a few weeds growing in the back yard. They weren’t very big and I was pretty busy, so I figured I would get to them later. Besides, they weren’t really hurting anything and they were off in the corner of the yard. Fast forward a couple of weeks and a lot of rain later, I realized the weeds had grown and multiplied! And not only did the back yard suddenly look like a jungle, but the weeds developed sticky thorns and many of them had already blossomed and spread seeds around the yard. I could have used the weed eater, but that would not have solved our weed problem, but instead it would have punted the issue down field a little and there would have been even more weeds to deal with as the rain and sunshine continued to work its magic on these fast-growing weeds. I realized that the only way to really get a handle on our weed problem was to pull them by the root. So, while I was painfully pulling weeds in the humid summer heat, I had time to think about the life lessons I should learn (or relearn) from this experience.
Here’s what I got out of it:
Pull your weeds early. Pulling weeds at the first sign of them sprouting is much easier than trying to pull them once they’ve established some roots. Weeds are similar to the bad habits we form. If we can redirect our thoughts and energy before our poor coping mechanisms become habitual, it is much easier to stay on track.
The longer you wait, the more likely they will take root and spread seeds all over the place. Not only is it harder to pull established weeds, but one weed can turn into many very quickly. Here’s an example. You stop to grab a drink after work with your friends every once in a while. Not a problem if it only happens once in a while. But if one night turns into several, or one drink turns into two, and then a few more after that, you might find yourself not getting enough sleep, ordering the chili cheese nachos a few nights a week, or missing a few workouts.
Weeds are a lot easier to pull when the ground is soft. Roots in dry soil can stick like rebar in concrete, but they can be easier to pull after a rain or a good soak with the sprinkler. Maybe you need to find new ways to create a positive environment to soften your soil. Get an accountability partner or a workout buddy to keep you from passing the gym on your way home. Or you could ask a friend to come over and help you clean out the junk food from your pantry and refrigerator. Do whatever it takes to create the right conditions to make healthy changes.
Chopping the weeds without pulling the root doesn’t get rid of them, it just gives them more opportunity to establish and spread out. Don’t fool yourself! An evenly mowed field of weeds is still a field full of weeds! You might think you are buying some time by cutting the weeds instead of pulling them, but you will keep spinning your wheels and wasting time trying to pull them in the future if you don’t get rid of them at the root. Sometimes, a bad habit is the symptom of a deeper issue. We think the habit is the problem, but we need to ask what is underneath the action that causes us to keep falling into this bad habit? Sometimes, the only way to change things is to get to the “root” of the problem.
When we finally get around to pulling the weeds, sometimes there are consequences for waiting too long. Suppose you have a flower garden, but you let some weeds take root, giving them time to choke out some of your flowers. When you finally pull the weeds, you might find some of the flowers are underdeveloped or dying. Our life and health can resemble these flowers once we get control of our bad habits. Just like the weeds can steal precious water and nutrients from the flowers, bad habits can steal time, energy, money, and health away from us.
Dealing with the consequences of bad habits can be painful and discouraging. However, it is never too late to start making changes. Want some tips on how to get started? Check out Think Big, Start Small for some strategies to get moving in the right direction.
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