Better than Nothing?

The other day I was working with a team in a medical office on communication and problem-solving skills.  As an introductory session, we did a "survival" exercise.  The premise was that the group was on a ship that was sinking.  They had to quickly choose the supplies they needed to survive in the life rafts from a list.  They had to reach consensus on the order of importance of those supples.  Of course, in the heat of the discussion, all the ways they normally communicated (or not!) and solved problems (or not!) were clearly displayed. A very interesting and telling experience!

However, I'm not telling you about it in order to talk about communication or problem solving.  I heard something I've been thinking about ever since.  I want to share the insight for you to reflect on, too. 

One of the items in the array of possible supplies was a quart of rum.  The discussion of the merits of that item went something like this:

"That one should be high on the list.  We're definitely going to need it!" (Laughter all around)

"I don't think the rum is what we need.  (This or that) is more important."

"We may be without water, and rum is wet. It's better than nothing."

At the end of the exercise, the correct answers were read, which were the collective opinions of experienced mariners.  The rum was right at the bottom of the list.  Not only could it not be used as a replacement for water, it would actually dehydrate the drinkers, making it more likely that the stranded seagoers would "die of thirst."

I couldn't seem to get that off my mind.  How often do we engage in destructive habits to "meet our needs?" Maybe you literally reach for rum or one of its cousins to give you courage or escape.  Maybe it's a harmful relationship which you tell yourself is "better than nothing."  Or maybe your "need-meeter" is the abuse of food, sex, drugs...or even the more socially acceptable obsession with status and success.

Better than nothing?  Hardly, not when a substance or activity gives a  temporary "fix," yet "dehydrates" your soul and body over the long haul. Think about it.

Dr. Bev Smallwood, Author of "This Wasn't Supposed to Happen to Me:  10 Make-or-Break Choices When Life Steals Your Dreams and Rocks Your World"