A few days ago, I was pulling weeds in the front yard. I almost missed a large one growing underneath a bush because it blended right in. The subtly different leaves finally caught my eye and I realized it wasn’t part of what belonged there. A former neighbor of mine was an incredible gardener. She called the sly weeds “impostors.”
We may have circumstances or people in our lives that seem like they belong but if we’re honest, they are no longer contributing to our peace and well-being (maybe they never did). They still look the part and can go undetected if we aren’t frequently taking stock of our lives to see what’s working and what’s not. Noticed or hidden, these “weeds” absorb nutrients (energy) that could be put to better use elsewhere.
Businesses take regular inventory as part of their management’s best practices. Aren’t our lives as important, or more important, than any company? Not just on January 1 as part of goal setting, but throughout the year, we would do well to take a close look to see what’s bringing life and what’s taking it from us. Even positive things can have a negative impact when they're out of balance with other priorities.
Our needs change and we may no longer benefit from something that used to add value to our lives. Because we are so accustomed to keeping things the way they are, we may have a hard time recognizing what's no longer serving us. Meanwhile the impostors are hiding out under something else, still taking up space and sending roots deeper. Maybe not a problem yet, but any weed left unattended will eventually take over and distract from everything around it.
Just because we can’t or won’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Now is a great time to look closely for what truly fits in our lives.
“Everything in moderation” is one of my favorite sayings. Today, let’s aspire to balanced and intentional living. I’m trusting you know exactly why you read this and what may need to be pruned from your life’s garden so everything else can flourish. Easy does it. One small change can be just enough for everything else to fall into place.
