Doing works, not only knowing

The relocated trash can

I learned this lesson from a funny experience with a trash can.

The trash can has been in the laundry room adjacent to the kitchen for many years. Our family members must have made thousands of trips to it by now. 

Sometime back, we had to temporarily relocate the trash can a few feet away to near the kitchen island to enable the repair of the dryer. This was to create space around the washer for opening it and replacing some parts. Getting the parts and replacing them took about 10 days. We had been making trips to the trash can at its new location several times a day. 

During this time, I learned that we can’t do the right thing just by knowing what has to be done and how. Knowing alone is not enough. You won’t believe it unless you experience something in real life. Read on …

After the trash can was moved, our legs briskly walked to its original location every time we had to drop some trash. We didn't find the trash can there, recollected its new location, and walked to the new location. 

After this happened a few times on the first day, I cursed myself for forgetting the fact of its relocation, even after I saw it in the new location several times while walking in the kitchen area. 

I thought my brain would guide my feet to the correct location, at least from the second day. But no! Not only the second day but for at least five more days, I continued walking to the original location, cursed myself, and walked over to the new location. The first few times, it was a funny experience. Then it was very frustrating and irritating. 

Reflections

After a few days, I gave up my negative thinking. I realized that an action repeated thousands of times can’t be changed just by intellectually knowing the revised action. The intellect, with all its knowledge about the new location of the trash can, could not make my feet walk to its new location. It was incapable of redirecting my feet automatically. The old habit ruled the day long after my thinking changed. 

My stupid action of walking to the wrong location of the trash can corrected itself after 7 days. I would walk towards the old location and halfway through, suddenly realize that it was at a different location and redirect my feet. 

I was happy with this huge improvement. 

Before my habit corrected itself 100%, the washer repair was done, and the trash can was put back at its good old location.  

Not surprisingly, I quickly went back to the long-established habit of walking to the old location. I might have walked to the new location only a few times. 

I was sort of relieved and happy to get into the old groove.

Now I fully sympathize with anyone trying to change an old habit. If walking to the trash can be so difficult to change, it is no wonder people find it so difficult to give up addictions to overeating, smoking, alcohol, angry outbursts, and such 'bad' habits, even after realizing their negative consequences.

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