"On Being Creatures of Habit"

 habit: n. An action performed on a regular basis. An action performed repeatedly and automatically, usually without awareness.

 

The switch was made over a week ago. It wasn't anything earth-shattering or life-changing-- just a simple rearrangement of appliances in my kitchen. It occurred to me the microwave and toaster would each be more efficiently located if they were interchanged. It turned out to be a good move, if such an appraisal can be applied to kitchen appliances. What struck me once again this morning, though, is what a creature of habit I am.

Unconsciously, without thought, I headed towards the toaster, the former location of the microwave, with my teacup to heat the water. I could say I wasn’t quite awake yet, as it was early in the morning, but such occurrences are taking place frequently. Just last night I reached for the microwave with the bread I was going to toast. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve looked in the direction of the toaster expecting to see the time on a digital clock.

Whether we are asleep or awake, our lives are filled with habits. My head would take to spinning in place if I were to seriously consider the degree to which habits are part of my daily life. For example, since my mind has been there, I realized I put my socks on in a certain order, left foot first; I always leave doors open when I go outside, the result of having locked myself out once. I am quite certain my life is permeated with such unconscious acts.

Watch and see what happens if/when we aren’t able to do something that is ingrained in our daily lives. It may be as simple as having to adjust to another time zone while traveling or coping with the time change for Daylight Savings Time. Try altering the personal "first thing in the morning" pattern and see how uncomfortable it is. 

The loss of a loved one or a catastrophic event which affects all routine can be life changing. For some, it has the potential to be disastrous, as one’s world is turned upside down, propelling folk into a fetal position.

Daily rituals, patterns, order, and routine—in truth, these are habits which monitor how, when, and where we live our lives. I think there must be a comfort in the sameness of things, the repetition of life, and a semblance of control. They create a rhythm of sorts, an attempt to minimize the surprises in our lives.

As humans, we tend to characterize habits in our lives as either good or bad. The bad habits are those things we do not like about ourselves and would like to change. The good ones counter that degradation and demeaning of self with behavior that makes us feel truly wonderful about ourselves. Remove those labels. I am of the feeling many of our behaviors are traits that make us unique individuals, the idiosyncrasies that identify each of us as one-of-a-kind.

Some say that, in order to break a habit--and that would, of course, be a “bad” habit-- one need only substitute the behavior with another for two weeks. Others suggest it takes 30-60 days or even longer. Of course, the replacement would be a “good” habit.

Now, it might just be me, but I’ve tried that approach more than once and find it to be short-term. Before I know it, I’m back in the old habit pattern I had hoped to change. Hence, I am of the conviction that, left to myself, “Old habits die hard.” They really do, especially when I’m the one trying to kill them.

For the most part, I have given up trying to change myself. It is always an exercise in futility. Thus, I have learned to leave that to my Heavenly Father. For starters, He does not categorize my behaviors, habits, and actions as good or bad, right or wrong. It took a long time for that precept to sink into my being. 

I’ve also discovered things which bother me often do not bother Him--at all. The converse is true as well. He sees the need to change areas in my life that heretofore hadn’t fazed me.

True change is the goal, I think--becoming a different person, a different kind of person--not just altering one’s habits. To only change a habit is akin to patching a couture original, a designer garment, with rags.

I am speaking of real, valid, undeniable, irreversible change that takes place within instead of just altering an action:

1.   Peace, not worry

2.   Contentment in place of discontent

3.     Courage instead of fear

4.    Joy replacing sadness

5.     Gentleness overcoming anger

6.    Generosity as opposed to selfishness

7.    Kindness in leiu of harshness

8.    Harmony rather than dissension

9.    Love expelling hate

Only God can accomplish that. I am reminded of the statement, “God loves me as I am, but He loves me so much that He won’t leave me that way.”

Yes, we are creatures of habit in many ways, but we don’t have to carry the burden of trying to change ourselves where and when it really matters. There is One who is able, capable, and willing to do that.

And sooner or later I’ll figure out that I can’t heat my tea water in the toaster or toast my bread in the microwave.

“Old habits die hard.”