Habits
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I am a big fan of habits. I habitually brush my teeth. This is a good thing. I have tons of habitual behaviors that I do without thinking; they keep my brain from overheating with exertion; habits can be our friend.
However, habits can also be our enemy. I developed a habit of putting this really delicious, silky smooth and loaded with sugar creamer in my coffee. Yum! Once I developed the habit of having it, I did not enjoy coffee without it. It was only when I was given information that inspired me to decrease my sugar intake that the lovely little treat that I so enjoyed became my enemy. Because I was habituated to it, it had the power to knock my numbers out of alignment before I had even had breakfast, much less eaten three meals and a snack!
Lately I’ve been re-evaluating my habits. I’ve decided that I want to keep the ones that support my core values but relinquish some that are inconsistent with my values. Coffee with a creamer that doesn’t fit my nutritional objectives has to go. I will miss her.
When I began my journey of eating realignment, I needed education, accountability, support and incentives. Habits don’t just disappear when we wish them gone! I understand that we do better with change when we replace habits, plan for change, and develop a patience for taking steady next right steps toward our goal. Grandiose thinking and change are not great partners.
For today, consider what you would like to change in your world. Tomorrow we will consider change and how it works.
