A Lesson in Uprooting Habits

One day, a father and son were strolling through a forest. 

As they walked, the father pointed to a tiny sapling on the path and said, “Try uprooting that.”

The boy bent down and, with little effort, pulled it out.

A few steps later, the father pointed to a slightly larger shrub. “Now try this one.”

The boy struggled but managed to get it out with some effort.

Finally, they came across a full-grown tree. “Can you uproot this?” the father asked.

The son looked at the towering tree, puzzled. “That’s impossible, Dad!”

The father smiled and said, 

“That’s how habits work. If you deal with them early—when they’re just forming—they’re easy to remove. 

If you let them grow, they take root. Eventually, they become part of you. 

Then, it’s no longer a matter of effort. It’s a matter of power.”

The Deeper Message

Most of us don’t notice when a habit takes root. 

It might be skipping a workout, ignoring a follow-up, reacting sharply, or procrastinating “just this once.” 

Like saplings, these behaviours look harmless. 

But over time, they evolve.

• A sapling of inaction becomes a shrub of laziness

• A shrub of fear grows into a tree of limitation

• A tree of indiscipline overshadows our best intentions

And then, we find ourselves trapped—not by choice, but by repetition.

What Can We Do?

• Spot the saplings early — Build awareness around your actions.

• Uproot them with intention — Replace weak habits with strong ones.

• Don’t wait until they become trees — Every delay feeds the root system.

“We first form habits, then they form us.” — John Dryden

Final Thought:

Whether it’s personal growth, communication flaws, or lifestyle patterns — the earlier we act, the easier the change. 

Waiting may cost more than we’re prepared to pay.

So ask yourself: 

What saplings are growing in your life right now? 

And more importantly… 

Will you uproot them before they grow into trees?