No Bad Habits?

I want to read you a quote from Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman that blew my mind…It is spoken by the wise sage in the story, aptly named...Socrates.

”Did I ever mention to you that there’s no such thing as a bad habit? You see, any unconscious, compulsive ritual is a problem. But specific activities - smoking, eating sweets, or asking silly questions - are both bad and good; every action has its price, and its pleasures. Recognizing both sides, you become realistic and responsible for your actions. And only then can you make the warrior’s free and conscious choice - to do or not to do.”

What?

No bad habits?

At first glance, I completely disagreed. After all, habits in my opinion, are the optimal vehicle for change.

However, as I chewed on it for awhile, its wisdom began to reveal itself.

It’s not the food or the drink that is the problem. No. It is our inability to have control over the food and drink that is the problem.

Is coffee bad?

Of course not.

But what about NEEDING to have a cup of coffee every single morning? Different story.

What about cake? I don’t think so.

But what about NEEDING to have cake any time I attend a party?

Now I write this in all humility. There are things that have their grip on me. Things I think I NEED ritualistically.

And I think those are the things that I need to examine more closely.

I want to be able to fully choose to have a cup of coffee and enjoy it to its fullest. I also want the power to choose not to have one.

I want to choose to have ice cream with my family...or not...and savor every last melted drop.

I control my food choices. They don't control me.

At the same time, I want to fully understand the consequences of my choices, and make my decisions in full awareness of what I am doing.

So today, let’s consider our choices and their consequences, embrace them fully, and have not a single regret...one-minute at a time.