When Good Habits Go Stale

Posted on February 10, 2009 by Bruce Keener

I have a prayer that I say every day. Well, I don’t actually say it … I read it. It’s a prayer for the soul of my late wife and other departed loved ones, and for the well-being of my family and friends, my pets, myself, and so on.

It is a habit for me, and I do it even during the times I do not believe in God, or at least not in one that answers prayers.

I consider it to be a good habit, but it has become a stale one. I generally read the prayer with little expectation that it does any good, but with a belief/fear that things would not be right without it.

I do not know how to restore it to what it once was, to something that was done with purpose and hope.

But, let’s set this example aside, for that is what it is: my example of a good habit that has gone stale. The question I pose for you is “Do you have a good habit that has gone stale?”

Maybe, for example, your GTD weekly reviews are just a habit now, and when you get to the point of reviewing your Someday/Maybe items, you breeze through the list while envisioning a group of pigs flying, rather than taking the time to really reflect on each item on the list.

Food for thought. Your thoughts?

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  • http://www.zen-moments.com John Rocheleau – Zen-Moments

    My good habits rarely go stale, but events and circumstances can certainly overwhelm them. Sometimes I just run out of strength to cope with and adapt to stuff that happens.

    My solution is, to try to recollect how my good habits developed and prospered. When I really look, I always find a difference between how I was conducting myself then and now, or what triggers in my life were dominant then and now. Based on that, I attempt to reestablish the actions, lifestyle, or whatever else nourished the good habit (assuming it is still appropriate in light of what I am learning).

    Through this, I also become more aware of the emotions that caused me to deviate, and more willing to deal with them. Usually this involves disciplined action.

    We should always remember that the finest human qualities and abilities spring from disciplined action and thought. Practical genius is hard-won; inspired genius is often impotent; the combination of the two is true genius. We need to structure our inspiration to build upon it.

    In regards to your personal example, sometimes what we perceive as staleness is just a sign of change. There may be a new vision for you on the other side of this gray zone. If you accept where you are and let go of where you feel you should be, you may see where it leads.

    Best to you,
    John

    • http://www.keenerliving.com/ Bruce Keener

      Thank you for your (usual) deep insights John.

      Best to you as well.
      Bruce