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Building/breaking habits became far easier to me when I started to understand the true importance and power of choice in the present moment. If you can cultiva
by kirse 14y ago
Building/breaking habits became far easier to me when I started to understand the true importance and power of choice in the present moment. If you can cultivate the ability to fight with yourself in the moment - when you do (or don't) want to execute - a habit is really just reduced to a single choice during the day. I still have to do it every night when I'm tired and don't feel like brushing my teeth... but I've had no problem running/lifting regularly since I was 18.
If you think about it, character is really just the additive (or multiplicative?) result of thousands of tiny choices we've made along the way in each present moment, for better or for worse. The only time you can be the person you want to be is right now -- including building or breaking habits. A choice promised to the future has no power or worth, the only time it matters is in the present, when it's time to put words and dreams into action.
In the case of habits, the long-term will take care of itself by focusing on the short term. Win the small daily battles and you'll be on your way to winning the war. And don't forget to manage expectations and give yourself grace when you lose a few of those battles. Something is always better than nothing.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- graeme 14y agoAs a corollary, I've found that having a long term promise to make choices helps in the moment. 'Should I eat this chocolate bar, even though I want to eat healthier?' 'Should I eat this chocolate bar even though I said I would only eat junk food one day of the week' For me, it's much easier to say no to the second question.
- krsunny 14y agoI've never understood why people view brushing their teeth before bed as a chore. We only have so many teeth, why is taking care of them such an inconvienience?
- aes256 14y agoShort term pain, long term gain.
- goodcanadian 14y agoPerhaps off topic, but brushing my teeth before bed is such an ingrained habit for me that it actually takes a force of will to choose not to brush them. I.e. brushing is actually easier than not brushing.
- endgame 14y ago> If you think about it, character is really just the additive (or multiplicative?) result of thousands of tiny choices we've made along the way in each present moment, for better or for worse. This is the idea underlying Samuel Smiles' book "Character" ( http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2541 http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2541 ).
- goldfeld 14y agoOn a broader perspective, this is the idea Aristotle has put forth.
- tehayj 14y agoEvery decision requires willpower. Doing things without thinking (making habits out of them) saves your willpower for other valuable things you have to do.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]