When I started out on this journey, I had a romantic notion that being a disciplined person would be grand. The way I wanted to really behave. I learned early on that discipline is a complete myth, and that a disciplined person was nothing more then a normal person that had developed a few good habits.
Whereas that might be true, the cold hard dose of reality that I am dealing with now is that all the romantic notions that I had that this life of discipline was grand are also not reality. Reality is that a lifestyle based on a set of good habits is not easy. It is absolutely better, that is true, but easy is not the word that I would use to describe it. I can say that I do not have to have as much will power anymore. For example, waking up and doing the many activities I have created for myself now is not something I have to compel myself to do. They are almost automatic now. I wake up thinking about it, and if I forget something (like I did this morning with writing this blog article) my mind naturally pushes me to accomplish the habit. No will power required. Before you know it, I am sitting here at the keyboard typing my random thoughts for the day.
What makes this not easy is the CHANGES that the good habits are requiring in my life. Suddenly, I can no longer accept things and say yes to things that I would normally take on. Now when someone asks me to do something, I instantly think – hmmm, how would I fit that in to my new lifestyle? Some of these are uncomfortable conversations. Some of these require more planning on my part. I cannot just stay out late any more – because I have to wake up at 5am just to have a hope of getting through all my good habits.
I also have to give up sleeping in, over indulging in food (you see, when I do that I get sluggish, when I am sluggish it is really hard to get moving in the morning), and spending late nights binging a new series on whatever streaming platform. There are things that I just have to say goodbye to. When you are building good habits, you start to require making uncomfortable changes in order to accommodate the time it takes to commit to good habits.
So this is my new reality. This is what it is like to have a bunch of good habits that you follow everyday. I used to romantically view myself being more like this, now that I am spending the time each day I realize what it might be like. Of course I have a lot of work to do. I am not that great at running, and certainly my 365 list could be crafted better each morning. I could pray with more sincerity, I could actually strive to help others everyday. The improvements are significant, so I am not giving up, but the new reality is far from romantic!
Guy Reams (205)
365 Member
