Kudzu and Bad Habits

January 20, 2009

Bad habits are a lot like kudzu in that they tend to sleep, creep, and leap. For those of you unfamiliar with kudzu, I have included a lovely photo by Jack Anthony of Dahlonega, Georgia. This invasive weed and our destructive behaviors are also similar in the sense that you probably would rather not have either one… but we’ll stick to my primary analogy here.

At first, kudzu will “sleep,” taking a while to get firmly rooted. Similarly, our propensity toward certain bad habits or addictions often lays dormant for a long time, waiting for just the right conditions to start creeping in. At some point in life we all, inevitably, have to deal with stress, depression, grief, anxiety, or some other unpleasant condition. At those times, our dormant tendency starts to gain strength (laziness, overeating, smoking, etc.) as a coping mechanism.

Once kudzu starts to “creep” it slowly reaches further and further, laying the groundwork to take over as much as possible. Likewise, our vices start to creep further into our lives. The occasional social drink or smoke becomes a daily ritual, because it helps us relax. The midnight snack becomes a midnight meal, and a snack between every meal, because it is the only way we feel comfort and pleasure. “I’ll just skip today’s workout because I’ve got a lot going on” becomes, “I know I haven’t exercised in six months, but I just can’t make myself go.”

This is the ideal time to do something proactive to take charge of the situation. If you are growing kudzu (which I do not recommend), now is the time to start training and shaping it; begin setting some boundaries to direct the way you want it to go. If you are developing bad habits, this is the best time to make changes to put your life back on track. Notice how far down this undesirable road you have ventured, and look ahead to where it will lead.

If it goes unchecked, kudzu will then “leap,” almost literally, over anything in its path. It is established, firmly rooted, and determined to have its way. At this stage it takes a constant, dedicated effort to keep it from taking over and completely ruining everything. It will take multiple battles, some of which you’ll lose, before things get under control. The evidence that it has been there often remains, as well as the perpetual possibility of its unwelcome return.

Bad habits, if ignored long enough, will become addictions and compulsions. That is not to say that change is impossible at this stage, but it will be considerably more difficult. In addition, by this point our destructive behaviors have most likely caused some permanent damage to ourselves, or to others.

If your bad habits have reached this level and are overshadowing the rest of your life, taking charge is long overdue. Seek support, enlist help, and prepare for a series of challenging battles. There is still hope; there is always hope. Some of the loveliest landscapes I’ve seen here, in rural Georgia, were once completely overrun by kudzu. Persistence and determination can yield wonderful results.

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Posted in addictions, bad habits, choices, compulsions