this is going to be a long one – “fair warning”, as the auctioneer says. ^_^
So, what I’m offering today is both my thoughts / ideas and an invitation to join me in an “experiment”. As is often the case, it began with my morning journaling – another one of those “what if’s”. This one has to do with habits – how they are ‘created’ and, more importantly – how can they be ‘changed’. I’m going to type here most of what I wrote – feel free to “speed read” ^_^ to get to the ‘meat’/point/invitation etc.
Perhaps I really need to consider walking? Why is it so hard to do? Why so resistant to something that makes me feel good? I mean, it’s not like it actually hurts or anything. Is it as simple as “habit”? Is it that mechanical? Is it the ‘nature of the beast’ – or more accurately – the wiring or the machine? And ‘change’ will only occur with conscious choice & effort – as in choosing in each moment/at each opportunity, until the machine has been completely re-programmed & is ‘doing’ the new habit.
Well, yes & no. Where it gets complicated is with all the “supporting conversation” associated with the (old) habit – some very subtle & coming from false beliefs & dysfunctional thinking. e.g.(to name just a few) I’m too busy, have too much to do, etc – never mind I do find time to play solitaire! or talk on the phone. And then the even more hidden ones that have to do with lack of attention on/caring for myself because 1) don’t deserve 2) am worthless & 3) it would be selfish & self-centered and prove I am conceited.
There is only one way thru all of that – set an intention & mindfully choose with integrity, & not give in to the resistance in all its many guises. Oh, with the intention – set a goal – a daily ‘item’/goal that can be “measured” & recorded. e.g. Walk every day for ___ minutes. And do it till it feels “wrong” not to do it. I can do that. Will I???
OK, what if I did it as an experiment? Can i prove my theory? Can i actually “re-program” myself? Start with “What if I walked every day for 20-30 minutes, minimum?” For 30 days. Would it become a “habit” strong enough to maintain itself “automatically? And – what if I invited Jann (or even others!) to participate? What that adds is ‘accountability and support’ – we are more likely to keep our word when given to another/”made public”. Uses ego-nature to our advantage – ego never wants to ‘look bad’! 🙂
Yes, I have read it many times – that you can create a new habit in some # of days, 21-30? However – either I have never really done the full 21 days OR – I had an “invisible” underlying opposing intention to “prove them wrong”! Ego is like that – cunning & crafty! Will do anything to be “right” – for being ‘right’ equates to surviving. Any kind of change shows up as a threat to survival for ego – the very fact that I am still alive is proof that “status quo” = survival = right = NO changes allowed. End of story for ego.
So, some length of time is required to demonstrate 1) still alive 2) feeling better &, ultimately, replace “old habit”. For this experiment, I will start with 30 days. And for anyone who stumbles upon this post and has read all the way to here 🙂 – an invitation to join me. You can let me know by a comment – or not. Strongly urge you to engage at least one other person – at least someone to ‘hold’ your promise, to whom you can ‘report’. For reasons I just noted – a promise to yourself that requires long term commitment is very tough to keep. Oh, by the way – your intention does not have to be about ‘walking every day’. This is an experiment in habit changing – choose whatever calls to you – you know already what that is that’s been poking at you for awhile. ^_^ Ah, just remembered what ‘we’ called the other person – our “committed listener”.
And with that I shall sign off and release this to the Universe. 🙂 Onward & Upward
Peace, Love and Beauty http://www.artfullyapplique.com
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