Is it Time for New Tires
Good Morning,
Recently I purchased new tires for my truck. Call me strange, but there is something wonderful about new tires and all that tread. I must have passed this quirk onto my son, because he subsequently got new tires for his truck and texted me a picture. Ahh the beauty of fresh rubber.
New tires are more than just beautiful. They are useful. They provide an increased measure of safety, help your vehicle handle better, and allow you to take on new, more rugged terrain. They help in snow, rain and ice. I am struck by two things about getting new tires that apply to life (that’s right I have found life lessons from tires!).
First, you get new tires because your present ones don’t provide the traction you need. They can be prone to leaving you stuck. There are periods in most people’s lives where they get stuck. They have lost the traction needed to move forward and grow. And to gain the necessary traction means changes need to be made. Old patterns must be broken, and new patterns taken up. They must come to the realization that to expect new results, new behaviors have to be established. Working harder at what isn’t working won’t cut it. It will never take you where you want to go. You must acknowledge that change is needed.
Second, new tires are not free. They cost money. There is a cost for the benefits they provide. The same is true in life. Growth – real, substantial, growth requires a price to be paid. It may be a financial price, hiring a coach for example. It may be comfort related price, something that takes you out of your comfort zone and familiar routines. It may be a sacrifice of time, something eliminated from your schedule so something more beneficial can be added in. Without a willingness to pay the price growth will remain an elusive dream.
If you are saying to yourself, “That is not rocket science”, you’re right. Yet it is remarkable how many people refuse to honestly admit that they are stuck, and that change is necessary. Still others, admit this, but are unwilling to pay the price necessary to facilitate the growth they say they desire. I’d submit to you this morning that the price of not paying the price is far greater indeed; a life underlived, dreams never pursued, and the thrill of discovering a new trail in life never experienced.
This morning, ask yourself 2 questions:
- Am I lacking traction in my journey?
- Will I pay the price to do what is needed to grow?
And when you notice a new set of tires on someone’s vehicle, let that be a reminder of what fresh traction can do for your life.
Live this week on purpose,
Ron Klopfenstein
