Life is short. There is not always time to figure out exactly what to do or why. But one thing is for sure. There are things you are doing, things I am doing, that we know in an instant are not good. Deep reflection and insight is not required to recognize these things. Why not pick one of those things and stop doing it? Just for today, whatever that thing is for you, stop doing it.
Cutting out bad habits is as important as creating good ones. One good habit is to practice focus and incremental change. In the case of behaviors that are not helping you (you know what they are) focus on just one, and just for today (the increment), and stop. Stopping ourselves is not easy, that is why the tools of focus and increment are required just as they are required when generating new habits or pursuing any goal.
Being human and alive is a weird thing. It takes a while to figure it out. Many things about us are innate and genetic. Some things we just know or seem to remember rather than learn. Our genetics are not as fixed as we think. Yes we get what we get, but there are many genes that are waiting in the wings so to speak, waiting to be turned on. This a a sort of built in flexibility and optional variation that is available to manipulation by our own free will, by the decisions we make. Consciously changing our environment, both internal and external will cause our bodies to express genes that lie dormant. This flexibility allows is to adapt and become and reach our particular potential.
Stopping behaviors that are not helping us is a way of changing our environment. Maybe it’s eating processed sugar. We know this harms our bodies. Maybe it’s staying up late and eating late. We know this is not good. Maybe it’s putting things off and burdening your future self with tasks you should do today. Maybe it’s getting all worked up in traffic , or having that same old stupid fight with our significant other?
What is one thing you are doing that if you stopped would make things better? Our daily 365 Commitment lists are full of things we choose to do. Now, use your daily 365 list to identify and track something you wish to stop doing that you know would make your environment better.
Ben Wagner (153)
Member The 365 Commitment
