Got Any Bad Habits To Dispose Of?

Every day of the year someone is resolving to break an old habit and start a new and better habit. Unfortunately most resolutions are veiled opinions based on wishful thoughts without a means to carry them through to reality.

Reasons for starting a new habit vary. Doctors orders are usually the most listened to reasons for establishing a new habit. Doctors orders tend to be mandatory and they bypass personal opinions and excuses. ‘Do what I say or anticipate your death much sooner than you may think’. Most take that opinion quite seriously.

 They say it takes an average of 66 days to establish a habit. Generally, habits are hard to break. They are learned responses which become spontaneous and automatic in specific contexts. Turning on the light on the left side of the doorway at night is a spontaneous behavior. It is learned quickly. Tripping and falling the first time due to lack of light is usually sufficient reason to remember where to ‘flip that switch’. Unfortunately, ‘taking a smoke’ or a stiff drink when stress comes around are learned as easily as the light switch routine. The habit is harder to give up when it has become spontaneous – and addictive.

The meaningful, purposeful, God given life is built upon the concept of developing good habits. Good habits are the automatic routines that enable physical and spiritual growth. 

Enter a Christian church and you will see people participating in wisdom filled habits developed over centuries. The habits include listening well, singing joyfully, sharing a meal with others, looking at others as your beloved brother and sister, learning what to listen for, absorbing words of teaching that may challenge opinion and bad habit, feeling the mystery of emotion that becomes part of such a gathering. You might even learn what is good, proper and helpful to build a life founded on good habits.

Younger generations as well as older generations need good habits. Advanced education, lots of money, purchased status and image never bring sought after happiness. Good habits do. 

Learning and living good habits (and giving up bad habits) show us how to appreciate and use opportunities in life. Using well and appreciating life opportunities becomes a habit! Just like turning on the light. 

A growing number of retirees, children, youth, adults have no exposure to training that leads to good habits. We all experience the result of the lack of the learning. Churches are filled with teaching about good habits.

Don’t take my word for this. Experience it for yourself. You can safely leave your opinions at home if you want. You won’t need them so long as you have an open mind and heart to hear perchance, God speaking to you.