Missing Our Old Habits- Enduring
Discomfort
By Daily Om
 If
you find yourself missing an old habit or pattern, know this is normal
and acknowledge the feeling.
Whenever we make the effort to free ourselves of an
addiction or a habit we no longer need, we are often surprised to find
ourselves missing the old pattern as we would a familiar friend. This
sounds counterintuitive, because we think we should instinctively
gravitate toward that which is good for us. And yet, it makes a lot of
sense when you consider that we humans are creatures of habit. This is
why we gravitate to people and places—and patterns of behavior--that
make us feel comfortable. Therefore, many of the habits we form are not
conscious and are based instead on learned behavior from role models who
were not always making the healthiest decisions.
Most addictions and habits begin as a way of avoiding
feelings that are extremely uncomfortable, so it makes sense that
stopping the addiction means, for a time, a fair amount of discomfort.
The same, of course, is true of habits that we have developed over time
that we are ready to release. Just knowing that this is hard, and having
compassion for ourselves as we work through this process, can help us to
stay the course when we feel the urge to backtrack. It's also helpful to
remember that in time we will establish new, healthier patterns, and the
yearning for the old ones will disappear. Eventually, we will
instinctively reach for things that are good for us, and the longing for
positive change may form the basis of a new habit.
The only way to get to this new place is to endure a
time of difficulty, which is a challenge we can confidently handle, if
we remember that it will lead to the change we seek in our lives. Our
bodies, hearts, and minds always need time to adjust to a new way of
doing things, but they will adapt, and even become our allies, if we
remain true to our vision of a new way.
Reprinted from DailyOM- Inspirational thoughts for a
happy, healthy and fulfilling day. Register for free at
www.dailyom.com. |
