“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” -Aristotle
Mr. Aristotle....so dang smart. Who was this guy anyway? He was a Greek philosopher who lived during the time of Ancient Greece. (384 B.C. - 322 B.C.) And let me tell ya, he has lots more great quotes from where this came from. How in the world could someone from waaaaay back when, be so smart and intuitive? (Especially without Google) It's quite incredible actually.
This goes to show that HABITS, even back in those days, were a thing. And I will assume that means both good AND bad habits. Something that has been on my mind lately, is this topic of habits. I have asked myself, why does working out (or other healthy habits) come so easy for some people? And yet, why do some people struggle to fit it into their daily life?
Is it that there are just people with more inner motivation? Or do they just enjoy working out more than others? I've come to the conclusion, that it boils down to HABITS. Those people have just made working out regularly a habit in their lives. That's it. There's nothing magical about it.
Once something becomes a habit in your life, it becomes easier to do. Like brushing your teeth every day. Or taking a shower. Are these things you debate doing each and every day? Do you ask yourself, "Do I feel like showering today? Nah. Not today." And if you miss a day, do you just quit altogether? Well I sure hope not. If it's a habit, you do it. It's just part of your routine, right?
I recently added a new habit to my life. It was something that I used to do quite regularly at one time, yet have stopped FOR THE LAST DECADE. And over these last ten years, I have many times wished that I was still regularly doing this. Yet, I didn't. So, I decided two weeks ago, to create a new habit. It wasn't easy at first. Because this habit means I need to get up a little bit earlier than normal. But I must say, I'm loving this time in the morning.
Each morning, I wake up (while it's still dark out), I fix a cup of coffee, I sit down to my kitchen table with my laptop, and I have some quiet time to myself. During this time, I read a few chapters of the Bible (my church is going through a special study right now so that helps) and then take a few notes on that. And then, I prioritize my upcoming day. I write down my goals and intentions for the day. I try to narrow it down to 3-5 things and I put a star next to 3 of those that are most important to accomplish. This has really helped me get done each day what is really pressing and most imperative to complete. I LOVE this time each morning. I don't always feel like waking up so early. But once I'm up, I feel so at peace while doing it. And it helps my day go smoother.
The best part is....it's now a habit. I can't imagine not doing it. It's like weightlifting for me, or meal prepping. It's just part of my routine. I need it. I want it. And I enjoy it.
What are some things you'd like to make a habit of doing regularly in your life? Why are those things important to you now? What stands in the way of doing them? And how ready are you to make them a habit?
Comment below and share what helps you to create new habits. I'd love to hear what works for you!!