It’s time to pull the weeds. The rising popularity of Marie Kondo and her tidying up system has me thinking about a different kind of clean up. What if we started with ourselves. I mean, taking a look inside and starting the clean up there, like pulling weeds in a garden. If you want it to grow, you need to keep the weeds from choking out plants you want to grow.
Side Effects
Just like most gardens we can have lots of different weeds too. Worry, bitterness, envy, anger, unforgiveness, are just some of the weeds that try to entangle us and choke us out. You know which ones they are in your life. If you don’t deal with them, you and those around you suffer the consequences.
Some weeds are self-grown, many are weeds we have allowed others to plant in us. Every experience and relationship we have is a part of who we are. You’ve heard it many times, life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Don’t play the victim. We all have the tools to overcome, we just need to rise up and do it. By taking control of these things in your life you will feel stronger. I choose not to mope around, I just live my life.
Self Respect
Respect yourself enough to step away from situations and people that do not serve you or the other party, mutually. Do not stay in relationships (professional, romantic or friendship) for the wrong reasons. Do not fear the consequences of breaking these relationships. This creates fertile soil for weeds to grow. Make yourself proud and walk away before those weeds begin to come in.
Communication
We need to be open and communicate with those we are in relationships with, don’t just assume. Be very clear about your intentions and do not sacrifice your values and who you are for anyone or anything. It’s ok to be vulnerable. I tend to be very passionate in all that I do, I love hard and I don’t regret that.
Discomfort
Don’t settle. Look around and look inside you. How many do you think are settling? I’m here to tell you, too many are settling. People are settling into okay relationships, okay jobs and an okay life. Why do they do this? They do it because it’s comfortable. Comfortable pays the bills and keeps you warm at night.
Comfortable is not thrilling. It isn’t passionate or even the reason you get up in the morning. Comfortable is not why you go to bed at night and wake up the morning. Comfortable is not life changing or unforgettable. It’s not the reason you risk everything you’ve got for the smallest chance that something absolutely amazing could happen.
Time to pull the weeds
It would be a terrible thing in life to wait until you are ready to pull the weeds. What does it really mean to be ready? We are never truly ready for anything. There is not such thing as ready. We have now, so you might as well do it now! Now is as good a time as ever. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to work. Pulling weeds is hard work. It’s uncomfortable. I will tell you this, you will never be the same once you start the work. It will indeed “spark joy” as Marie Kondo says.
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