Good habits are so powerful because they do two things at once. First, they steadily move us toward our goals by simply promoting beneficial action consistently and often. Good habits are the autopilot of goal attainment. Second, they are prophylactic, good habits prevent disasters, avoid inefficiencies, and banish lost opportunity.
Bad habits cause a chain reaction of misfortune. This morning is a good example. I have a pair of prescription sunglasses that are important to me. I have established a good habit of always putting them back in their case and back into my man-bag when not in use. Yesterday, I was in an emotionally taxing and distracting situation and failed to follow this habit, doh! Now, I am wondering where they are? Where could I have left them? “Agony Quest” is back.
Instead of focusing on tasks for this day, one small break in a good habit will have me spending time looking for them, possibly revisiting places I was at, driving across town, asking people to look through lost and found and so on . . . basically a huge waste of time and effort, lost opportunity of progress toward important goals, and emotional stress.
It sounds silly, but I love these particular glasses, they are prescription, polarized, and a very cool frame that is not longer available, and expensive, a gift to myself. Not having sunglasses is really just an annoyance; they are a luxury of sorts. Maybe they will turn up easily, or maybe they are actually lost forever. The point is, I am facing a problem and a whole host of negative emotions that are completely unnecessary.
Unnecessary problems are the natural prey of good habits. Good habits are a vaccine against unnecessary pain. Good habits are to problems what bug-spray is to roaches. Good habits prevent us from stealing from our future selves, and from letting those who depend upon us down. Good habits open the doors of opportunity and good fortune and pave the way to our goals. So, we must figure out a way to build them into our lives. But this is hard and we have failed before. Hmmm, what could possibly help?
The 365 Commitment is the answer. Commit to creating good habits in your life for 365 days in a row. See what happens. It won’t be pain free. HOWEVER, the pain you experience in performing good habits is for a GOOD CAUSE , you will benefit as a result! The pain you experience as a result of bad habits is a total waste and unnecessary, and will rob you of benefit. Pain is always there, the question is do you want the pain of life to result in benefit to you and those you love? Or, do you want the pain of life to compound and lead to pointless bitterness and loss? These are the questions I am asking myself this morning. Embracing the suck, means accepting pain that leads to benefit.
So, I am back to focusing on my good habits. I want the benefit! If I am going to suffer it might as well be for the good! Now, where are those sunglasses!
Ben Wagner (114)
Member The 365 Commitment
