I’ve heard the first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one. Sounds easy enough. However, most people won’t admit they have a problem because of the price they have to pay to admit it. The price could be risk, embarrassment, guilt and even public humiliation… so maybe it’s just safer to live with the problem.
A good salesperson will help you understand it’s not always about the price, but the value. Those running shoes are $30 more, but they will help prevent injuries. That professional seminar may cost $300, but it will make you better at your job. That car may cost $3000 more, but it will require less maintenance overall.
So the price of admission may be worth it too – admission of the bad habit you know is keeping you from your best, followed by the strength to ask for help to do something about it. That bad habit may be painful to fix, but you will be so much happier in the long run.
I admit one bad habit I’ve been able to overcome is procrastination. It may not be as destructive a habit as alcohol addiction or anger management issues, but it can absolutely paralyze you into inaction. This self-imposed paralysis can keep you from achieving what you really want in life.
Early in my career, a high level executive gave me an important assignment that I didn’t really know how to do. I didn’t want him to think I was unqualified or stupid in the middle of the large staff meeting so I said “Sure, I’ll take it!”
Then instead of asking for help afterwards, I procrastinated. I fretted over it, stewed over it and delayed it. I ultimately didn’t pay the price of admission until it was too late and the assignment was given to someone else.
In hindsight, the fear of being found out held me back from admitting I needed a little help. Had I simply asked for assistance right away I would have gotten started, built up momentum and learned some new skills.
Is there a problem or bad habit you’d like to fix but haven’t really admitted yet? The price may not be as high as you think, and the forceful step forward may be worth its weight in “goals.”
Great article David. Very well said about the price being one most are not willing to pay. But the reward far out weighs any initial investment. God Bless.
~Anita
I think I may have that procrastination issue, but I’ll worry about that later.
Very inspiring blog posts, David. Worth their weight in Goad 🙂
Self-acceptance is huge. When you place the alternate values to “price of admission,” it cahnges a lot of things. However, this “paying of price” is really the only thing that can set us free, and release us from the anchors that disallow our ultimate progress. It is not that the world is so lacking, or our lives are so lacking… it is that our thinking is that of lack, and therefore we manifest that condition from our point of consciousness.
Another thing… we don’t necessarily have to admit things to the Universe and all its people… but we do have to be truthful to ourselves.
Roland.
This is one of your better ones. The message is spot on and your story was short and to the point. 🙂