Mowing Over the Problem

Recently, I saw a business using a weed-eater to clear out their flower bed. Don’t worry. It was mostly weeds anyway.  I wondered, "Is that really the way to tend to a flower bed?" 

Later, I noticed a neighbor doing the same thing Everything outside of their fence was being weed-whacked. Maybe they were going by the rule: out of sight, out of my yard. And sure, it looks cleaner... but it's also barren.

That’s what some of us do with our thoughts. We suppress or ignore them instead of confronting and cultivating them. We “cut down” the internal mess without tending to what’s good and helpful. In an effort to deal with negativity, we ignore hope, creativity, and self-belief. The emotional neutrality isn’t the same as peace. It’s just emptiness.

The Battle Below the Surface

Just like with weeds, the problem often runs deeper than what we can see. Those unwanted plants have been growing beneath the surface, waiting for their chance. The same goes for our inner thoughts. Some of them are rooted in years of criticism, comparison, failure, or trauma. They’ve taken hold and spread quietly. That’s why surface-level fixes rarely last. Weeding takes intention, consistency, and, often, sweat. Motivational quotes, occasional journaling, or once-in-a-while encouragement may trim the top, but they don’t pull the root. So what does?

Tend Your Inner Garden

Here are a few “yard tools” I’ve found helpful when tending to the mental and emotional weeds that try to creep in:

1. Awareness – The first step is noticing. What kind of self-talk shows up when things go wrong? What are you telling yourself when no one else is around? Awareness helps you spot the first signs of the invaders.

2. Discernment – Not every uncomfortable thought is a weed. Some discomfort helps us grow. Discernment helps you separate destructive thoughts from helpful challenges. “I’m lazy” is a weed. “I need better habits” is an opportunity to grow.

3. Replacement – Don’t just yank the weeds. Plant something better. Replace the “I’m not enough” with “I’m a work in progress, and that’s okay.” Replace “I always fail” with “I’m still learning.”

4. Environment – Just like your yard thrives with sun and water, your mind thrives with healthy relationships and uplifting inputs. Who and what are you allowing into your garden?

5. Patience – Weeds come back. It doesn’t mean you failed. It just means the job isn’t done, and it probably never will be. Tending your mind is a lifelong process.

6. Outside Thinking – Sometimes, we can’t see what’s really going on in our own mental garden. That’s when it helps to talk with someone trained to ask better questions. An exploratory conversation with a professional coach can help you explore what’s possible beyond your current perspective. It’s not about being “fixed”. It’s about expanding your view and unlocking new options. Sometimes growth comes from simply inviting in another set of eyes and ears.

   
   

From Overgrown to Cultivated

Everyone has mental weeds. The real danger happens when we let them grow unchecked. Or worse, let them dictate what stays and what goes in our minds and hearts.

The flower bed can flourish again even if it’s been neglected. Your thoughts can be shaped even if they’ve been overrun. Your self-worth can grow even if it’s been trampled. It all takes intention. It takes daily care. And it takes the courage to not just “mow it all down” when it gets hard.

This summer, as I battle the weeds in my yard, I’m reminding myself that I’ve got weeds in my thinking too, and both need regular care. And maybe, just maybe, if I stay intentional, stay patient, and keep planting the right thoughts, I’ll have something beautiful to show for it both inside and out.