250201 What I learned in my studies this morning 5

Today's Meditation(s):

The Creative Act, Habits (Rubin)

I remember as a kid, I had a goal of perfect competence. If I worked hard, and learned enough, I'd have a proper reaction no matter what the situation. I'd be perfectly able of handling myself regardless of what came up.

(Pure hubris, I realized later, but I'm going to cut my younger self some6slack.)

Believe it or not, it didn't work out.

But, as Coach Wooden stressed, good habits can eliminate errors before they arise. Every reinforcement of proper basics means one more issue I won't have to worry about because it (probably) won't come up.

What positive habits do I hold? I try to read and think each day. I play word games and do my Duolingo each day. I (usually) read with my kids (one or more) each day.

And the negative? I eat too much. I stress about things not up to me. I don't properly take care of my health. I put off important planning for my future due to inertia and fear.

So how do Ioosen the hold of my bad habits and strengthen the good?

Decide! Right? Just decide different? Isn't that how to do it and be done?

Yeah. Right. Perhaps I need a refresher on basic psychology. Or, at least, a better review of my personal timeline to demonstrate the folly of believing such.

So how, then? If I can't just 'decide' different, then how?

Well, first of all, 'deciding different' can work, it's just most often a one-shot fix. I get that singular surge of conviction and it makes the difference this time. I can't count on it happening again, but I can take advantage of it when it's available.

Secondly, I can make adjustments to my routine to try and head off temptation before it takes hold.

Do I regularly grab a snack at a certain time of day or in a particular place or situation? Plan ahead and actively do something different before the temptation arises.

Take a different path to avoid the kitchen where the snacks are. When I find myself imagining a nap, get up and walk for a few minutes or do some jumping jacks. That sort of thing.

Notice the leading indicators of my weakness and nip it in the bud when they come up: have a preplanned action to break the cycle and escape the siren songs of the Twinkie or the soft bed.

Remind myself that failure in particular does not mean failure in general. Give my self another chance without rancor or internal recriminations.

(With the caveat that failing in particular multiple times does.  Chances are not infinite nor free. If I consistently fail to divert myself from a self-destructive or suboptimal course, then I need to reevaluate my planned interruption because it isn't working.)