Does the Grass Appear Greener Elsewhere?

“What happened to my beautiful green grass?” I thought, as I surveyed my patchwork–looking lawn this winter. I found myself looking over into my neighbors’ yards to see if their grass was greener; some were, and some weren’t. Luckily, it occurred to me to look a little deeper at the roots of my lawn to assure myself this was a temporary situation. Just as I had hoped, beneath the thatched appearance, sturdy green roots looked promising.

I felt much better, but I couldn’t shake the realization of how quickly I was willing to question my methods and switch my loyalty and admiration to someone else’s enviable lawn. The phrase “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” instantly made me think about how human nature tempts us to “look on the other side of the fence” when our own grass doesn’t look quite so green. With this in mind, here are a few questions you might find helpful when measuring whether to overlook a “dry patch” in your career, or any other area of your life.

How have you felt about your job, career or relationship in the past?

Looking back over months or years, have you felt satisfied, proud and/or happy with your circumstances for the most part? It can be tempting to judge our situation by what we see directly in front of us. You may find yourself in the middle of a dry spell but, with a little care and attention, you are likely to see growth again in your future.

How deep do your “roots” run?

Last spring, I laid new sod in my backyard. At first, the new grass appeared lush, green and full of potential. Unfortunately, that portion of the yard didn’t receive consistent sunlight, and because the roots weren’t well established the sod eventually died off. However, the sod in the front yard was well established and survived a long, hot summer.

Think about the “roots” you have in the different areas of your life. It may be tempting to chase after brand–new opportunities, but your odds of success may be greater if your roots are healthy and deep. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plant new seeds or stick with something that hasn’t previously grown. It simply means when you find something that has consistently worked in the past, and you have seen steady growth, you may want to hang in there a little longer –– when you may otherwise be tempted to look elsewhere.

When’s the last time you “fertilized?”

Just like grass or any living thing, our careers and relationships won’t thrive without proper care and preventative maintenance. If you find you’re feeling stagnant or run–down in your current scenario, step back, survey the whole situation and put together a plan to help you create the growth you want to see.

Most things appear bright and shiny when brand new; it’s really up to you to provide the upkeep when things begin to fade.

It’s almost always easier to maintain something that’s worked well in the past than to plant new seeds — and simply hope for success.