Habits

We all have something called the mind. But it's interesting to note that most of the time we are totally unconscious of our actions and behaviors. Instead, we are driven by habits without any ability to resist them. One obvious example is when we face problems or people we dislike. Without any self-consciousness our first reaction is aversion, anger, or frustration. Procrastination, anxiety of unknown origin, and the tendency to feel jealous are just a few other examples in which habits overwhelm us. I particularly like this poem, called "Autobiography in Five Chapters:"

1) I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost...I am hopeless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

2) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I'm in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

3) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I see it is there.
I still fall in...it's a habit
My eyes are open
I know where I am
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

4) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I walk around it.

5) I walk down another street.

I think the point of this poem is that we should bravely acknowledge that our habits are formed by ourselves, and no others. We are completely responsible for who we are. The good news is, if we don't like the way we are right now, there is always a way to change it. It just takes some determination and mindfulness.

I think the most difficult part is for us to see our own bad habits. Thus, it always helps if there are people around us who can poke our habits. At times it hurts, but it's better than accumulating these habits until it's so solid that we can no longer change them.