Day 54 – Changes Wrought by Momentum of Habit

Last night I worked until 1:15am.  I had a serious deadline looming and had to meet it.  Do or die.  I got home close to 2am and told myself that it would be best to get as much sleep as possible before facing the next 8am arrival back at work.  So, I set my alarm for 6:30am.  I woke up at quarter to 5 anyway.  I laid there until 5:20. Which had value, because in that half asleep half-awake state my thoughts gravitated toward issues of the day and answers from dream state seemed to inform wake state.

I had a big day ahead of me.  I realized I would feel much better if I just got up and did my morning habits. The decision to “embrace the suck” happened like a wave rolling up on the beach,  a result of momentum, and prevailing winds en route from past behavior, promoting the  habit.

So I got up and ran, and did my squats, and my 29 pull-ups, and walked calmly into the cold shower.  The pull ups were gratifying because they too came easier in spite of 3hrs sleep.  I slipped into my meditation routine more quickly too.  Days before I was a bit shocked to find that the guided meditation I had become so fond of was now deleted inexplicably from YouTube.  So I’ve been forced to “remember” and re-create the experience in silence (except in my mind) over the past week. This morning, that too came easier. The subtle changes wrought by the momentum of habit and practice are sweet.

Ultimately,  my day proved to be pivotal in terms of my fate. My deadline and crucible moment were met and overcome with the same rushing type of wave energy that characterized the flow into my morning habits, a momentum emerging from past effort. In this case effort from the night before. This is the point of today’s blog, notice the subtle changes wrought by the momentum of habit.  Notice and enjoy these results on your 365 journey.

Ben Wagner (59)

Member 365 Commitment

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Share the Post:

Recent Blogs

Day 337 – Principle Artifact Confusion

The author draws a parallel between the barefoot running craze and the current hype around AI coding tools, highlighting the danger of “Principle–Artifact Confusion.” This occurs when a sophisticated practice is reduced to a product, and the product is then mistaken for the underlying principle that made the original practice successful. The article emphasizes that AI should amplify good fundamentals, not replace them.

Read More

Day 336 – Your Presenteeism is Not Useful

This article challenges the common belief that simply being present at work, even when performing suboptimally, is beneficial. It argues that ‘presenteeism’ can lead to decreased output, increased mistakes, and prolonged recovery, ultimately creating a ‘recovery debt.’ The piece advocates for deliberate rest as an investment in future productivity, emphasizing that true recovery involves activities like sleep, proper nutrition, and disconnecting from work, rather than passive leisure.

Read More

Day 335 – A Life is a Story, Not a Snapshot

This article explores the danger of judging a person’s worth based on their current circumstances, likening it to viewing a life as a snapshot rather than a long trajectory. The author shares a personal anecdote about photographing a homeless man in high school and reflects on how easily we reduce individuals to their present condition. The piece emphasizes that human value is not a snapshot and should not be solely tied to current productivity, advocating for a recognition of a lifetime’s accumulated worth.

Read More

Day 334 – A Lucky Day

While waiting in a long pharmacy line, the author reads the story of Richard Laver, founder of Lucky energy drink, who survived a plane crash in 1985. This event, Delta Flight 191, sparked reflections on how pivotal moments can shape lives, airline safety, and the technological advancements of that same year.

Read More
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x