Habits. What's the Big Deal?
Nov 22, 2016
A habit, as defined by dictionary.com - an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.
When I take a step back and look at most of the actions that make up my day, I find that my life has patterns. There are certain things that I do at particular times, in particular ways. There may be some variance from day to day, but there is a pattern.
This pattern consists of things that I do without thinking, and I am sure this is true for you, as well.
For instance, I wake up and go to bed at, basically, the same time every day. Upon rising, I wash my face, brush my teeth, make the coffee, feed the dogs, do some reading, pack a lunch, iron a shirt, go for a run or do some yoga and then get to work on whatever project I am tackling that day.
Your day, with some variation, probably starts in a similar way and continues with a myriad of habits - some good, some not so good.
If you want to know who someone is, take a look at their habits.
Aristotle said, "You are what you repeatedly do.", so in order to know who someone is, or to know who you are, take a look at what they/you, repeatedly do. Examine habits.
If you want to be successful in any area of life, take a look at what successful people do. If you do not see a similarity in lifestyles, between yours and theirs, then it is time to make some adjustments and develop some new habits.
When you take a look at a successful person's life, you may discover the need to eliminate a habit or two or your own. You may not realize you have habits that are not serving you well, until you take an objective look at what you repeatedly do in contrast to what someone else does.
"The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken." ~Samuel Johnson
While the chains of a bad habit may feel impossible to break, they are not. It takes some time, patience and daily intention to replace a bad habit with one that serves you and your life better.
Bad habits must be consciously resisted and replaced with an act that will move you closer to your end goal.
Ask yourself this question, "Is what I am doing working? Is it serving a purpose in my life? Are my actions, thoughts, beliefs, habits, moving me closer to who I want to be and what I want to achieve in life?".
If you are not asking yourself these questions on a regular basis, don't be disappointed when you look around one day and are exactly where you started with nothing to show for your time.
If you are unhappy with your results, something must change. After all, the definition fof insanity is doing the same the over and over, expecting a different result. If you want a different outcome, you must change something and do something different. Each action we take has the potential of becoming a habit.
Habits are not easily undone, but they can be be changed with effort and intention.
St. Augustine said, "Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity."
- What actions do you view as necessary in your life?
- Is there anything that you want to stop doing?
- Is there anything that you want to start doing?
In the words of that great Nike slogan - just DO it!
If we are what we repeatedly do, do those things that will make you who you want to be or get you where you want to go. Aristotle concluded that if we are what we repeatedly do, then excellence is not an act, it is a habit.
We are made for a purpose and with more potential than we could possibly ever imagine. You can tap into that potential and find your purpose, when you develop your habits.
I challenge you today to take a look at the things you repeatedly do. How do they serve you? Do they serve as steps towards who you want to be? Or are they holding you back and moving you in the wrong direction?
You have the power to determine your direction.
Be intentional and be your best TODAY!
Co-Director of Marathon Makeover
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