What Habits Do You Practice?
Do your daily habits empower you or hold you back? Let's explore the power of conscious habits together.
Habits - we all have them! They develop over time and are essential to our survival. However, without awareness, they—and we—can become “calcified, rigid, resistant to change” (Hübl, 2023, p. 21). Do you start your morning with a steaming cup of thoughtfully selected and prepared coffee? Do you find it necessary to make your bed before you can really get going? Or, do you roll from cozy comfort straight into exercise mode each day before the sun rises?
The Role of Habits
These scenarios may or may not resonate with you, but rest assured that every one of us has habits that we practice regularly! Take a moment to think about your habits. How do they serve you? How do they make you feel?
For example, I love to slowly stir together the ingredients of a protein-packed hot chocolate every morning. The quieter the kitchen scene, the better. It helps me wake up slowly. It’s a small thing that makes me feel safe, grounded, and nourished before heading into my day.
Reflecting on Your Habits
What if we brought awareness and intention to all of our habits? What if we regularly asked ourselves, "Why am I doing what I’m doing? Does this practice, this habit, this routine support who and how I want to be in the world?"
While this inquiry can be deep, it can also be simple and fun. Brushing my teeth? Yeah, it makes me feel so fresh and so clean, clean! As my dentist assures me, an investment in my oral health is an investment in my overall health! Working out? Yeah, I’m supposed to do that, aren’t I? Or, could the way I work out be more aligned with who and how I want to be? Do I want to beat my body into submission, making it adhere to someone else’s standards of health, fitness, and beauty? Or, do I want to choose a movement practice that makes me feel loose, free, comfortable, joyous in my own skin? Hmmm… that’s one to ponder! ;-)
Bringing Awareness to Habits
Thomas Hübl writes in his book, Attuned: “When everything in our lives flows automatically and according to habit, we tend to miss or ignore all the cues pointing to a need for change until we find ourselves confronted with crisis.” He and many others remind us of the gifts of contemplative practice, i.e., giving some time, attention, and thoughtfulness to our being and doing in the world. Hübl says, “With awareness and presence, we can better move from rigidity into flow, recognizing when new energy is needed and adapting outmoded habits to embrace change.”
I’m finding that by using somatic practices that help me get out of the swirling, whirling in my head and tap into my body’s messages and wisdom, I can more easily see the rigidity of my habits and sense when it’s time to seek out flow and change.
Action Steps
Reflect on Your Habits: For the next week, take five minutes each evening to reflect on your habits. Ask yourself, "Did this habit serve me today?"
Try Something New: Experiment with one small change in your routine and observe how it affects your day.
Listen to Your Body: Incorporate a simple somatic practice, like deep breathing or mindful stretching, to connect with your body's wisdom.
Send me a note if you’re interested in learning more!
