Living life in a self-made defective system …

One of the ways many of us (probably most of us) become our own problem and inflict pain into our lives is by creating, and then trying to live in, a defective system.

What is a “defective system”?

First, we need to know that a defective system has its motivation from this fact: Preferred behaviors that appear to achieve desired results will be repeated.

A defective system is when we take on poor, negative, unhealthy, even sinful behaviors, and persist with them because, at least for a period of time, it seems the payoff of the behavior exceeds the cost of choosing to behave that way.

Here’s an example: Very early in life, a child may get into trouble with a parent, and in an effort to avoid the trouble, he lies to his parent. As it turns out, the parent believes the lie, so in that situation the child avoids the cost of his poor behavior. Later, when the child continues the behavior, he reasons he didn’t get into trouble when he lied about his behavior, so he tries lying again. It works again, and it may work a few more times … UNTIL the parent discovers the child’s lies, then the child is in worse trouble than he was from the start!

At that point, and not before, the child may choose to change his behavior because NOW the cost of the behavior exceeds the perceived payoff.

Adults do the same in many ways. Here’s one example:

Like the man who knows he’s having to loosen his belt or change pant sizes because he’s gaining weight. He also knows he’s gaining weight because his overall nutrition is composed of a mostly junk food diet, and he knows it’s not good for him. However, at that moment, there doesn’t seem to be an adverse cost to the behavior, and he enjoys reveling in the “payoff,” in this case the payoff being the pleasure he derives from eating anything he desires, as much as he desires.

Then, down the road, comes the annual check up when his physician informs him he is now a Type 2 diabetic. Suddenly (but not really), the cost for his persistent indulgence with food is severe and dangerous, significantly exceeding any perceived payoff. Many people may, at this point, finally make a change in their behavior, but not everyone does. Sadly, some people choose to remain in a defective system, to their great personal detriment.

Some things to understand about defective systems:

It’s a deception. A defective system might feel safe because there’s not perceived immediate threat or serious cost. It can also feel like a “comfort zone” because it’s familiar, it’s what you know and you have at some point perceived something good, or at least something “pleasant,” about it. And it’s easy — it doesn’t demand self-control, self-discipline, change or personal growth. It’s soft and comfortable for the moment.

It fosters a distorted motivation. People who choose to live life from a defective system approach don’t live life from a stewardship approach — managing well the life entrusted to them, and doing something of best value with it.

It’s dangerous. The great danger of a defective system is that, if indulged in long enough, it can lead to a cost that is extreme. The young boy who tried lying to his parents might get a spanking, etc., but the adult who winds up with diabetes can face serious, even life-threatening health issues as a full cost to his defective system.

The difficulty. The longer you insist on living life in a defective system, the harder it will be to get out of it when you have to start paying the cost. This story from the Heidelberg Herald illustrates this stark reality:

An elderly teacher, with a pupil by his side, took a walk through a forest. Suddenly he stopped and pointed to four plants close at hand. The first was just beginning to peep above the ground, the second had rooted itself pretty well into the earth, the third was a small shrub, while the fourth was a full-sized tree. The tutor said to his young companion, “Pull up the first plant.” The boy did so eagerly, using only his fingers.

“Now pull up the second.” The youth obeyed but found the task more difficult.

“Do the same with the third,” he urged. The boy had to use all his strength to uproot it.

“Now,” said the instructor, “try your hand with the fourth.” The pupil put his arms around the trunk of the tall tree and couldn’t even shake its leaves.

“This, my son, is just what happens with our bad habits [defective systems]. When they are young, we can remove them readily; but when they are old, it’s hard to uproot them, though we pray and struggle ever so sincerely.”

Sometimes we don’t even realize we have one or more defective systems flourishing in our lives (a counselor can help you see them), but often times we do and try to deceive ourselves about the danger of living in such a way. Regardless of how hard we may try to fool ourselves, the cost(s) of a defective system will always come due.

Are you trying to live life purposely fostering one or more defective systems in your life? Today is a good day to choose to make a change and start on a path of living free of chosen defective systems that will, at some point, have a required payday.

Scotty