HABITS
By: Andy Fry, Renogize Coach & Director of Operations
Have you ever sat down to think about how many habits we reinforce on a daily and weekly basis? There are numerous repetitive movements and actions that we have grown accustomed to that, left unto themselves, will be repeated in perpetuity. How we open a door, which leg goes into our pants first, how and when we brush our teeth, how we sit down into a chair, how we make our coffee…and those are just a small sample of what happens before you leave the house in the morning!
What if we have found that a particular habit is no longer helping us, but could be detrimental to our overall health? The simple, benign way that we carry our bag on one shoulder over time could create imbalances in our posture and hurt our back. The added sugar or aspartame from our afternoon pick-me-up drink can wreak long term havoc on our bodies. Neglecting to show gratitude at work by not telling a colleague or direct report that their contributions are important could result in a fractured relationship. None of the above, in small doses, will have a meaningful negative impact in the short term. Keep it up over an extended period, though, we could be in trouble.
How do we make a change? The solution might be simpler than first guessed.
If we sow a thought, we reap an action.
If we sow an action, we reap a habit.
If we sow a habit, we reap a lifestyle.
If we sow a lifestyle, we reap our character.
Following this progression back to its source, our character is largely defined by what we choose to think about on a continual basis. Put simply, we are what we think about on a continual basis. We must think about the change that we want to make in our lives. If we set reminders, post notes, and bring other people into our goals, we greatly increase our chances of making sustainable change. Think about something you want to change. If you think about it enough, you will be well on your way to taking action and in the very early stages of changing yourself into who you want to be.
