We often talk about our bad habits as if they are personal flaws that we can do nothing about. All of us have the power to change our habits it we want. Yes it’s hard. And yes, that means recognizing the habits we want to change. And YES, we can do it. It means being willing to be uncomfortable…YIKES! Not that! (heavy sigh!) I know, I know…change means work, accountability, and even being uncomfortable until that bad habit is replaced with a good one. And yes, it means being an adult about it all…and who wants to do that?
Maybe it is better to leave bad habits alone – like sleeping dogs. Try to change a habit and discomfort, mistakes, personal growth and something akin to being a better version of ourself begins to happen. People around us may like us better. They may even talk or visit more and tell us personal things about themselves. We might grow closer, stronger, and may even begin to care about each other even more than we thought was possible. We may find love, adoration or even respect. We may end up finding new and exciting things about what we are capable of doing. We may end up liking this new version of ourselves and have to keep it up. WHAT! That’s madness…who wants any of that???
Or we can just stay the way we are and leave well enough alone and keep our bad habits alive and well…
On the other hand, like Olivia E. Butler tells us, habit is persistence in practice. Habit is what we can lean on when our flesh grows weak. Habit is what helps us get work done – any kind of work – and it gets us through the tough days. Habit is what we rely on more than we care to admit, so why not makes our habits good ones versus bad ones? Why not face the reality of our own choices that have become habits and have the guts to change? Oh no, not that adult stuff again!?! Yeah, some days it really sucks being an adult.
Yet our days in this life are short, shorter than any of us ever know. With our time limited, isn’t it a good idea to strive to be the best version of ourselves EVERYDAY? Don’t we want to be that person who inspires and brings our best self to every interaction? (Another heavy sigh!) Getting old is not for sissies, so maybe it’s time to suck it up and change our habits. Pick one habit, any one, and dare to work for a couple months to change that habit. Find reinforcements, someone to encourage you along your path. Write down your goal, give yourself a cookie when you see that habit beginning to disperse. Dare to believe that you can change, no matter how old or settled you are in your ways. Dare to do the work and bring your best self to the days you have on this planet. You will never know unless you try…and isn’t your life worth the try?
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