Proverbs 14 vs. 12 (NIV)
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.
Today we will look at habits, which is a pattern of behavior that is done so frequently that it’s almost done involuntarily. According to Charles Duhigg, three parts form a habit. The cue, the routine, and the reward.
Cue otherwise known as the trigger is what brings the habit to the surface. Routine is the doing of the habit.
Reward is the good feeling you have, once the habit is accomplished.
Habits are formed in the nuclei of the basal ganglia in the brain. It sits below the cerebral cortex.
Habits give us great pleasure, a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment. Who would not want that, and with all the struggles that life offers, why should we not experience gratification?
After all, we live in a world that seems dark and dismal at times, and everywhere we turn we find trouble, failing health, aging parents, college tuition, house notes, car notes, a salary that can’t keep up with the bills, children on the spectrum, a shrinking 401K and a failing marriage. To keep up with the daily grind, we form habits, as payment for our trouble.
The real question is: are you receiving a benefit from your habit, or paying the price. Also, how do you know the difference? A simple question to ask is who is in the driver’s seat, you or your habit. Are you always angry? Sad? Distant? Do you feel everything has to be perfect? Do you work too much? Do you still have to be in control?
If your habits are beginning to encroach on those around you; or you minimize the effect it has on your life and find it easier to blame others, than you’re operating from a place of blindness and are paying a heavy price.
A benefit is an investment into yourself, and it pays dividends, it comes from a place of knowledge and not ignorance. Experience allows you to make an informed choice, and when you know better, you can do better. It brings rest, joy and confidence. A feeling of accomplishment can be of great benefit to those around you, thus bringing more completion in your relationships. There is no shame in a benefit; therefore you can proudly take ownership. A benefit brings about success, giving us a feeling of worth. It’s time to make better choices and live.
