A house in my neighborhood has two grandfather pines in the yard, taking up the entirety of the front lot. A collection of scraggly weeds and anemic crabgrass grew around and under the trees. Last summer, thick black plastic sheeting appeared, covering up all traces of the less than desirable lawn.
By covering their lawn, the homeowners cut off two things that plants need to live – light and water. Without a source of energy, the weeds withered and died.
When we’re faced with a limiting pattern or habit we no longer want in our life, we can use the same technique. Whatever we feed grows. Whatever we stop feeding dies. This is also true of thoughts, beliefs and even relationships.
We begin by examining how we’re currently feeding the pattern or habit. Do we talk about it frequently with friends? Do we berate ourselves for giving in to it? Do we worry and obsess about it? Do we frequently think, “I hate this. I wish I could let it go?”
Once we identify how we’re keeping it alive, we stop feeding it. For this tool to be effective, we must cut off all energy to the pattern or habit, even energy we expend by resisting it. Energy is energy, so it doesn’t matter the nature of the energy we’re sending it, we must stop all energy flowing to it. We act as if it no longer exists.
Gradually, the pattern or habit withers and dies just like the weeds under the plastic. And in their absence, they leave space for something else to sprout – a more positive belief or more healthy pattern of behavior – just like I envision hostas and other shade plants growing under the pine trees next summer.
How might you use this technique to bring about a change you’ve been desiring?