Wisdom story: What is the secret to breaking bad habits?

Once upon a time, there was a wealthy man who wanted nothing but the best for his son. However, to his misfortune, his son lacked good habits and had no work ethic. Concerned for his future, the wealthy man sought the wisdom of an old scholar and requested his help in guiding his son toward a better path. The scholar agreed but insisted on first observing the boy’s behavior. For one whole week, the scholar silently followed the young boy, noting everything he did without uttering a single word. After a week of careful observation, the scholar invited the young boy for a stroll through a lush garden. As they walked, he began to speak, explaining what habits are and how they shape a person’s life. He shared real-life stories of people who had both good and bad habits and described the consequences each faced. The young boy listened intently, fascinated by the tales. Then, the old scholar turned to the boy and asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

The boy’s eyes lit up with excitement, and he eagerly described his dreams. He spoke with such passion and detail that half an hour passed in what felt like a minute. When he finished, the scholar nodded thoughtfully and then posed another question. “Do you have the right habits to achieve your dreams?” At that moment, the boy’s excitement faded, and a look of sadness took over his face. He hesitated before admitting, “No, I don’t think I do. And I don’t know how to change my bad habits.” The scholar stopped walking and pointed to a tiny plant growing nearby. “Pull that out,” he instructed. The young boy bent down and, using just his thumb and forefinger, plucked the small plant from the ground with ease. The scholar then pointed to a slightly bigger plant. “Now pull that one out.” The boy pulled harder, and after some effort, the plant came out, roots and all. “Now, try to pull out that bush,” the old man directed. The boy grasped the bush with both hands and tugged with all his strength. It was much harder, but after a great effort, he managed to uproot it.

Then the scholar pointed to a sturdy guava tree. “Now, take that one out.” The boy wrapped his arms around the trunk and pulled with all his might. He gritted his teeth and strained his muscles, but no matter how hard he tried, the tree would not budge. Finally, exhausted and panting, he admitted, “It’s impossible.” The old scholar smiled gently and said, “So it is with bad habits. When they are young and small, they can be removed easily. But once they take root, they become strong and difficult, sometimes impossible, to uproot.” The boy stood in silence, reflecting on the lesson he had just learned. It was a realization that changed his life. From that day on, he worked tirelessly to develop good habits, understanding that they would shape his future. Years later, when the boy had grown into a wise and successful man with a family of his own, he made sure that each of his children experienced the same lesson he had learned in the garden, ensuring that they too would understand the importance of forming good habits early in life.