Where Are Your Habits Driving You?

During the pandemic and political cycle of 2020, Pete and I EVENTUALLY turned off our televisions and I began to limit my exposure to Facebook. It became obvious that exposure to the repetitive news cycle - with very little new information - was creating undue anxiety for us. We told our adult kids to tell us if anything earth-shattering happened, otherwise, we had the information we needed to make the choices we decided were right for us. When we relapse, we immediately regret our decision to tune in.

We upped our commitment to daily walks (long ones), meditation and prayer, and our grandchildren. We played more games, worked on more puzzles, and chose to keep the house quiet when our grandkids were not visiting.

These are all choices we had the capacity to make - but it took us surprisingly long to figure out that we could and should make them. We had developed some habits that needed to be jettisoned. It wasn’t like we were eating sugar with a spoon or guzzling soda. Our habits would not have alarmed anyone on an intake form for rehab.

But our habits were driving us; we were not choosing them.

Meditation helps us wake up. Our goal is not to turn our brains off or shut down our thoughts. Mediation is slowing down enough to NOTICE that which has become too automatic for our own good.

Today, sit with your eyes open and observe yourself and your environment. Notice the details. Observe your body’s feelings. Too hot? Too cold? Too stiff? Relaxed? Energized? Need a nap?

What habits might need shifting in order to improve your quality of life?