191-Habits - Buddhism in daily life

Habits


Who thinks to have life "under control" is mistaken, we are
primarily controlled by our habits.


Everything is subjected to habits, from getting up to going to
bed, all actions are subjected to constant repetition, freely
according to the motto: "We have always done it this way"!


If you want to improve your self (and from a Buddhist point of
view there is nothing against it, Buddha admonished his followers
to discipline, mindfulness and asceticism) you should think about
your actions, especially about your habits. Our habits make up
almost 90 percent of our actions, so if you have formed "bad"
habits, you are quickly on the "wrong" side.


To really think about habits seems boring at first, because many
of our habits are just not exciting, repeat themselves over and
over again, are not glamorous, but banal and musty. Nevertheless,
it is worthwhile to take a look at the connections within us.


Let me give you an example: You have gotten into the habit of a
very special way of washing the plates, glasses and pots. You
came up with this method once, many years ago, and you've been
doing the dishes this way ever since. Whether this system really
makes sense (or not), you have not checked for a long time. Maybe
there is a clever alternative, because there are many people in
the world who think about all kinds of things. This is especially
noticeable with the so-called "lifehacks", the many, little
videos that are supposed to teach us how to peel tomatoes, or for
example how to fold our clothes.


Those who are not fully satisfied with themselves can work on
themselves by examining their habits, keeping the good rituals
and getting rid of the bad ones. And here small things make a big
difference, if you incorporate a few minor changes in your habits
every day, you will change tremendously in the course of a year.


Let me give you another example: you brush your teeth every
evening, then go to bed and turn off the lights. What would
change if you spread out your yoga mat in the living room before
going to bed? Would that be an impetus for you to actually do
your yoga in the morning? Would that be a positive change in your
habits? I think YES.


So what habits are bothering you about yourself? Can you list
(without thinking) two or three? What bothers me about myself is
that I eat too quickly, I always find myself "gorging" because I
have so much work to do. So I try to put an anchor in my mind
palace, so that I more and more refrain from the habit of gorging
and more often chew the food completely before I swallow it.


Tomorrow, read on about the habits that make life yours.


The journey is (as always) the destination!


Almost every personality view becomes a habit and thus a bondage


- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before
the year zero


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