The Train Series 5: Habits

First published on August 26, 2016

Habits are hard to change. (If this wasn't an article written on a time limit, I'd look up the etymology of habit, but I don't have time and you do have Google, so I think we'll be ok.)

I kept pulling muscles in my back. Not badly, but every few months. I wasn't sure what was causing it, but I set out to try to change some habits that I thought might help. My warm up, with a back stretch every morning, was relatively easy to change. My posture, when sitting and running, much harder. It started with putting my attention on my posture. Notice, when I can. Change, when I notice. Don't blame when I don't.

That last part is, I think, important, for lasting change.

I'm trying to change another health related habit now. I carry a lot of tension in my jaw, which has some downsides for my teeth, and sometimes for opening my mouth. I'm using the same technique to change how I hold my mouth when I walk and sit, when I lean my chin on my hand, and several other things. After my other experiences, I am confident the habits will change.

Notice, when I can. Change, when I notice. Don't blame when I don't.

It's relatively easy to notice when I need to change a physical habit. My body tells me (or my dentist does). What about mental habits? What about emotional habits? What about habits that are ingrained even longer, from childhood? What about those stories we have been telling ourselves, about ourselves, about others, about the world? For years. Maybe decades.

Well, I don't know for definite. Everyone's habits are different, just as everyone's stories are different. But I'm pretty sure it starts with noticing, when you can. Followed by changing, when you notice, if you can. And in those cases it is even more important not to blame, when you don't.

And, of course, you have to want the habit, the story, to change.