Thursday around 6:45am I was reading when the phrase – “to fix it you must break it” popped up in a book I was starting. This got me to thinking about the point where some situation or scenario is presented for action and the assessment must be made, “do we break it and start over or is there salvageable material?”
Legally this question is asked when documents are presented that can’t be salvaged due to the fact that anything added to the document becomes defiled by the previous wrong contained in the original. I usually identify the point of infection then realize that nothing good can come from keeping the original so starting from scratch is best. Other times the overwhelming fix requested requires such radical action that breaking whatever it is first must occur. This break it first approach comes with the inevitable discussion of pain levels but after initial discomfort the right path is clear. The inevitable debate then ensues is the pain worth the benefit. Most people, I will argue, are not willing to endure the necessary pain to “fix” the problem. They want a shortcut. A trapdoor that teleports them to the solution without the arduous endurance necessary to truly fix something.
When faced with the crossroads of pain but solution versus ease with deformity most people choose ease with deformity. Being faced with the solution to a nagging problem is rare since we bury most challenging problems hoping that we have the shocks to absorb the bumpy road. You have been off track for years then someone presents a rare alignment that for the first time honestly sets out the time, action and pain so you can assess if you want to live with a life pulling one way or the other or the chance to drive straight. Do you have the courage to be broken first for things to be straightened out for healing?
You are right. Accepting the deformity is much easier but remember to fix it you must break it. Are you ready for something to be fixed?
Albert R. Hartley
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