There are many layers under our skin. Cells that live with us and leave us without even letting us know, doing their work quietly. Taking all the time of their own in becoming and unbecoming, as they slowly settle into a tendency.
We become our tendencies. Repetition of gestures become life long habits. As simple as acquiring the taste of sugar. For some, Coffee in the morning is a habit. Like buying bottled(plastic) water, but it wasn’t used to be. Making a habit is a lot easier than breaking one (ask a smoker), you can live on old habits for a while, but the future seemingly depends on finding and building some new ones with (and for) your people. Or your family. Or yourself.
As soon as something useless starts becoming a norm for the body; this mind should be taught a lesson. Every becoming habit should be tested in its phase of tendency. One must shock it, confront it. We should oppose ourselves, resist our actions, question and be strict with ourselves.
Because, undoubtedly some of these habits are now comfortable. Walking away from spending that time will cost us comfort, in the short run. But if we don’t walk away from how we spent time yesterday, it’s hard to imagine that tomorrow will be much better than today.
The most powerful insight is that you can do it with intent. You can decide that you want some new habits, and then go get them. But the question remains, ‘Are you seeing your habits ?’
ROAD TO NARA 
While your post, as always, is profoundly inspirational, for many living their comfort zone would be a high order. It is very helpful to advise not allowing bad habits to developpe and nip them before they get embedded in our mind.
I already feel inspired, Narayan, and will have the lovely watermelon for breakfast ( I have watermelon every day), instead of something sinful.
Joanna
LikeLiked by 1 person
i love watermelons. Everything about them. Color. Taste. Shape. That they are not so rigid as they look from outside. And the best, after feeling 🙂
This essay also came into being as i am trying to work this out on myself. My Ma loves milk tea, and i make it well. So you see, i end up having at least one two each day. I enjoy it though 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a powerful post, Narayan. Especially, the last three paragraphs and the ending punch, ‘if we are seeing those habits’! Thought provoking!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Including myself, it is was more of a letter to self Ramya. To awaken, to correct – at any given time, if ever i come and read this again.
You are welcome Ramya. Thank you for your words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with Ramya Vivek: Thought provoking. Seeing our habits is not easy. Recently, my son brought my attention to a new habit I had developed without realizing it. Awareness makes it possible to change.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Rosa, even though i do not have any children, but i see my mother hearing me well. How you said i could only feel that our loved ones are our closest and clearest mirrors. We should hear them well before reacting, answering. Thank you very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Narayan, Thank you for this helpful post. Tea with half-and-half is a beloved ritual learned from my mother. Several years ago, I switched to decaf. I have found that I can do without decaf tea with no physical discomfort. I drink it because of its health benefits and enjoy it without guilt.
I love watermelon but have learned to consume it in small quantities in order not to raise my blood sugar. I think moderation is harder than abstinence! 🙂
I think that the most insightful thought in your post is that we should examine our habits to see if there are any that we should break. Complacency takes over so easily!
All the best! Cheryl
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheryl, don’t know if i mentioned my tea habit coming from my Ma too. I looked up on Decaf tea, i wasn’t aware of it and should surely suggest it to her as well.
ha ha moderation is harder, and even though we keep hearing, reading about habits but it is important to confront them. If not stop, we must replace.
Your words arrived as an insight too dearest Cheryl. Thank you so much. and just as i reached the full stop point here, like tube light, my mind disclosed me the elaborate word meaning ‘decaffeinated’ tea’ 🙂 i will remember.
LikeLike
Yes, Narayan Intention builds good habits!
Really good post. ❤️ Cindy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely to have your presence here dear Cindy, and for your words. But you know i feel intention is a good start, it takes some persistence, and may be some failure to get to the right path, better building habits.
Thank you Cindy
Nara
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Narayan! Yes, intention is the start and persistance is the follow through to get there.. absolutely!!! 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleasure Cindy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this.
Change happens. Embrace change.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been some time dear Rebecca, hope you are doing things happily.
Yes. Yes. Totally. Embrace change ❤️
LikeLike
We do become slaves of our habits and that’s the most difficult thing to come out off. However, those habits that are good, we should encourage developing those and also making sure they don’t get lost.
LikeLiked by 1 person
absolutely. need to not just save but sharpen what we have already got for sure neel, lovely to have you here 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A thought provoking post Narayan. I used to start my day with a morning cup of tea. But reading that tea on empty stomach is not very good, I felt the need to let go this habit of over 2 decades. Well, though not easy, I managed to kick it off. Feel good about it. Like you said, with awareness comes the first step.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, tea on empty stomach is acidic, same here. Just that i drink two glasses of water and it is all fine then. May be you are stronger willed than i am 🙂
Absolutely, to be aware at each moment while doing any action. Lovely to have you Radhika, been some time i see. Thank you.
LikeLike