You know when you are driving to a familiar destination and you are simply on auto pilot? You arrive and turn off the engine only to have that nagging sensation that you have no clue how you got there. When driving, this can be a really bad thing! When developing positive habits, this is like the sweet spot.
Your life today is essentially the sum of your habits. How in shape or out of shape you are? A result of your habits. How happy or unhappy you are? A result of your habits. How successful or unsuccessful you are? A result of your habits.
What you repeatedly do (i.e. what you spend time thinking about and doing each day) ultimately forms the person you are, the things you believe, and the personality that you portray.
James Clear – author of “Atomic Habits”
If life is going your way than this quote indicates you should keep doing what you have been doing. If life is pretty shitty than it is time to shake things up. When I read that quote, I remind myself that this does not negate the fact that some of us are simply born into realy difficult circumstances and have a lot to overcome.
I also learned from Mr. Clear that “according to researchers at Duke University, habits account for about 40 percent of our behaviors on any given day”. Think about that, 40% of your behavior can be attributed to habits. If you have good habits that means that you barely have to think about making good decisions and taking positive actions. They are automatic like brushing your teeth twice a day, every day. If you have bad habits, 40% of the time you don’t have to think about engaging in them, you just do, keeping you on a path you don’t really want to be on.
I urge you to take a few minutes to write down the habits you are currently have that are working for you. You know the ones – they make you a better person, exemplify the type of person you strive to be. If you are a regular reader of My Little Blue Kayak, these are the habits that help you maximize health, wealth and happiness!
Next take a few minutes to write down the habits you have that are not helpful, the ones that throw a monkey wrench in your good intentions, the ones that do not support your efforts to improve health, wealth or happiness. Now pick one of those habits and spend some time thinking about how you can change it.
I am no expert is establishing good habits so I recommed your check out James Clear. He has plenty of advice on how to do this! In his blog he references his book “Atomic Habits” which is on my reading list for 2021. As you read some of his articles, keep the habit you have been thinking on in mind!
Does the idea that both your good and bad habits happen as if you were driving on auto-pilot hold true?
Keep that auto-pilot button fully engaged for the habits you would like to keep! For the habits you wish to change, it is time to disengage that button and step back into the driver’s seat, fully in charge of your decisions.
You can read more of my blog posts on this topic below!
Driver or Passenger?, Change Your But!
Choosing Happiness!
Lake Girl
