Habits and entrenchment

 

Like everything else in life, habits can be a good thing, especially when simplifying one's life. Think of them as automated routines. But sometimes these routines can get stuck and they may have you feeling a little hopeless. We are not talking about anything chemical dependent, that scope of things has already filled libraries, just emotional or physical habits that it become entrenched and that perhaps you would like to change.

As always these are my own perceptions. I am not trained in any way in psychology or healthcare. I have a curious mind however and these are just some of the things that occur to me.

I think as a modern society we are a little too accustomed to finding the "path of least resistance" and therefore we have taken automation, and the biological equivalent, habits too far. Leaving us ill-prepared to deal with adversity. It is my opinion that everyone needs some adversity in their lives on an ongoing basis. To be clear this is the kind of adversity that while it poses a challenge is not totally overwhelming. Difficult yes, but within reasonable bounds. Something that stretches one's boundaries and enlarges their world. It may not be immediately apparent at the time the adversity occurs.Many times in my own personal experience, something that happened a few years ago in some cases has been a benefit when something else happens in the current day. Adversity therefore has the ability to build up or enlarge one's toolbox of answers. Because you can deal with more.

Habits on the other hand if not monitored can go the other way, by reducing the size of the toolbox over time. If you're habit is never to go out in the rain then you may be ill-prepared when you do have to go out in the rain to resolve an emergency. This is an over dramatization but you get the idea.

It is also important to know that whatever adversity you undertake or create deliberately as a challenge must have a resolution you can benefit from when possible. So keep things in perspective and do your best to challenge yourself a little every day. You will be less dependent on habits and there will be less likelihood of things getting entrenched because you will have discovered more about your self.

Take care Patrick