Habitual Living
Everyday we wake up to a brand new day. It can be somewhat misleading because there will be much about the day that will look and feel like many previous days. The truth is that probably much of the day will be gone through on autopilot.
Habits are very efficient when it comes to living. Because we have developed habitual ways of doing things we aren’t required to relearn how to do all the necessary things just for minimal functioning. Habits make it possible to make the caffeinated beverage of choice in the morning. Habit allows us to do things in efficient ways. Imagine if you will, the act of getting in your car, buckling the seat belt, starting the car, backing out of the driveway, and so forth. We can do all of this without either thinking or relearning all these necessary skills.
Yes habits can be good. There is a down side though to habits. There is a risk that we will go through large segments of our life without ever examining what we are doing or how we are doing it.
“One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure” – (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
In Buddhism we constantly use the word mindful. Yet much of our live function more efficiently by not being mindful. What’s a Buddhist to do?
Here is an experiment you might try. Some morning, or evening, try brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand. You might go even further and shave or apply make-up with your non-dominant hand. Or the next meal you eat, try doing so with the opposite hand from the one you normally use.
First it’s going to take a lot of effort just to give it a try. I’ll bet you strongly resist trying; even possibly deciding it isn’t worth the effort. If you can manage to do it though I think you will have an interesting experience.
Now take a moment to consider how many of your response patterns are automatic. Look for something you do that you would like to change. Imagine what you can do to interrupt the pattern. Perhaps all you will be able to come up with is formulating a strong mental conviction.
Several years ago, many years actually, I worked at a place where every year beginning Thanksgiving we would have a ‘cuss’ cup, into which we put a quarter every time we cussed. One year I decided that I would try to not cuss. It was a challenge at first, just remembering not to cuss. After a few days of limiting my speech I began to look at those moments when I would be prone to cussing, then I began to look for alternate words of expression.
The exercise was a real eye-opener. I began to see how habitual, speaking could be. It became exciting to implement different speech patterns and thoughts.
So give it a try, see where you too can trick your brain into being mindful.
“I also see some Bodhisattvas Giving up wanton pleasures, Parting from foolish companions, Approaching men of wisdom, Controlling their minds from distraction, And concentrating their minds in hills or forests For thousands of billions of years In order to attain the enlightenment of the Buddha.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter I)
