251. The Switch

I believe we all have this notion of who we are.  How we come off to people and do not take the time to consider where we are wrong.  Sure, some may be right, but in my experience…the curtains don’t match the drapes (I keep trying to use this metaphor and can’t get it to fit).  What we show to others is really different from who we are or feel we are.

What happens?  We end up keeping the same friends and falling into the same habits.  We end up making the same choices and falling into the same quick sand…we dig ourselves out only to ask the same questions.  Never considering and thinking about where we are jacking up.  We get comfortable and go through motions…resulting in that slippery slope where we are at the bottom trying to get out. 

Think of your habits!  Alcohol?  Unfair criticism?  The same type of date?  Biting nails?  One night stands? Not thinking?  Anger?  Abuse?

What do you do? 

Recognize where you are making the same choices.  That requires a constant and daily intention to focus on you.  It requires you to focus on the behavior that you keep doing.  It’s a process, not a switch.  It’s a constant attention to the decision you keep making.  This activity…this exercise… gets easier with time.  You are working out the muscle…you are putting it to use…your ability to recognize your bad choices.  The more times you work out the muscle…the stronger it gets…the more efficient it becomes and the easier it is to activate it.  Eventually, the process becomes a switch and it becomes as easy to turn off the action as it would be to turn off a light.