#492 This habit is here to stay

It’s easy to be non-violent when you’re in a flower garden

Josh Waitzkin – The art of learning

It’s easy to be kind to others when the world has always been kind to you.

It’s easy to say you want to be a writer when you never really put yourself out there to prove it.

To learn writing, I must confront the uncomfortable parts of writing – and learn not to respond by running away from it.

To learn non-violence, I must confront violence – and learn not to respond with violence in return.

To learn kindness, I must confront being hurt – and learn not to use that as an excuse to perpetuate the cycle of hurt.

To build trust in myself, I must stay true to my values under difficult conditions.

No one is bad at sticking to habits.

Because everyone’s day-to-day life is stitched together with recurring activities anyway, whether you consciously choose to do them or not.

Maybe you brush your teeth every day – and that has become a non-negotiable.

Maybe you wash your hands before every meal – and that has become a non-negotiable.

Maybe you shower every morning right after waking up – and that has become a non-negotiable.

Maybe you write every day – and that has become a non-negotiable.

Maybe you practice yoga three times a week – and that has become a non-negotiable.

Maybe you spend 10 minutes daily catching up with family, friends, acquaintances, or relatives you haven’t seen in a while – and that has become a non-negotiable.

Habits are habits.

And that has an interesting consequence:

If you can do that, you can also do this.