The Philosophical Approach To “Pulling Weeds”

A few years ago I was hanging out with an Army buddy, at his modest but epic vineyard in the Barossa Valley, where he was creating amazing wine. 

He was also so deeply immersed and knowledgeable in the process of wine making from the bottom up (the soil, plants, seasons, weeds, etc.), I was in awe. 

This buddy also had some PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) issues he was working through. 

One of the things I shared with him, was to consider solving ‘life’ issues (that were causing stress), by directing his attention the land and the vines – which he knows so intimately – and see how nature deals with similar ‘issues’.

This helps connect to the now, get out of a story, and see what the ‘reality’ is of the life cycle.  

Like being reminded that you cannot control everything, like the weather, for example.

There are so many lessons that Nature shares, which can be applied to day-to-day life. 

So the other day, as I was wandering around our lawn and pulling weeds, I had this thought… 

Pulling weeds

(Actually, there were several things that came to mind) 

The primary thought was this: 

It doesn’t matter how many weeds I pull, there are likely to be new ones tomorrow (or the day after). 

My point is, I am never likely, EVER, to get ALL of the weeds; and perhaps even more importantly is that there will never be a time where there are no weeds and I never again have to pull another weed again. 

The only time there are no weeds is if I do a scorched-earth policy with Round Up or glyphosate and kill everything.

So where there is life, there are bound to be weeds. 

And no weeds might mean no life too. 

Which is not the outcome we want. 

So, if I want to experience life, I have to acknowledge the following: 

1) There will be weeds. 

2) Regardless of how many weeds I pull, there are still going to be more in the future. 

3) No weeds, most likely also means no plant life, which is also not what we want.  

Pulling Weeds and Life

Most of us would probably REALLY like a life free of ALL problems or issues (weeds). 

Sounds great!

Perhaps we start to imagine that if I do X, Y and Z (really well) then I will be free of weeds (issues) in my life. 

Perhaps we even envision a magical time where there are just no issues in our lives for evermore. 

Our own special Utopia.

Bliss…

And then a loud noise startles us awake to face ‘reality’. 

The bad news is that a place free of all issues is likely to be the place where nothing else exists (including you). 

Weeds (issues) might just be a sign of the existence of life. 

And they are unlikely to be personally there to torment us, but to draw our attention to something that may require our attention. 

What are the weeds (issues), that are showing up, trying to tell me?

– Do I need to change my expectations? 

– Do I need to surrender into greater levels of acceptance?

– Do I need to show more consistency and discipline?

– Am I becoming overly fixated (and therefore bias in my interpretation)?

– Do I need to do things in a different way? 

– Do I need better advice? 

– Do I need better or different resources to get the job done?

– Do I need a better strategy or plan?

– Do I need to change my actual environments (i.e. move somewhere else)?

– Do they really matter (that much)?   

What are the weeds (issues) in your life trying to tell you?  

In Summary:

The existence of weeds (challenges) is not a bad thing – and perhaps their existence means you are alive.

There is no place where no weeds (issues) exist, so acceptance of this might be essential for our sanity.

The better we get – by being creative – at making the act of pulling of weeds more enjoyable, the more joyful life can become.

The existence of lots of weeds (problems) might be trying to tell us a fundamental message.

And finally, don’t make the existence of weeds a validation that there is something wrong with you, or that life is against you. ALL of us have them, and it is about how we deal with them that determines our life experience and level of fulfilment.

My Parting Words

I think I said most of what needs to be said in the Summary. 

The most important thing for me (which I say often), is if we strongly desire something that does not exist (e.g. a life free of challenges), we are setting ourselves up for disappointment and pain. 

Life comes with weeds (issues), just like our garden does. 

Roll with it (accept it). 

Learn from it (get curious). 

Grow from it (get creative). 

And know with 100% certainty that no-one on the planet has no challenges, problems or issues in their life, so know you are always in good company (and nothing in you is broken ;-)).

Have a day where you smile at your weeds, and a week where you lean into pulling weeds without judgement or begrudgement .   

Take care 🙂

Carl  

PS: Have you read or listened to this book yet, which is available everywhere? 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be

PPS: To read more of my tips, tools and strategies, visit my BLOG here.

PPPS: Please reach out anytime and let me know if you any questions or requested topics, or you need a helping hand with a significant change (or some beliefs / stories challenged). And please SHARE or FORWARD this article to friends and family, if you think it might help.

Quotable QUOTE:

“The more joy we get from ‘pulling weeds’ (once we accept that they are a natural part of life) the more fun the process and life can become.” Carl Massy

(Author of 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be)

PS: Have you read or listened to this book yet? 18 Ways We Make Life WAY Harder Than It Needs To Be