There are three necessary rhythms for life: the drawing of breath, the beat of the heart, and the waves of the brain. The loss of any one of these results in the cessation of life as we know it, but rarely do most of us think about their importance until one of those rhythms starts to falter. Then we identify symptoms (rapid heartbeat, memory loss, difficulty breathing, depression, apnea….) and seek help to rectify the problem, trusting intervention will be in time.
An alternative approach is to pay attention to your rhythms with respect and appreciation on a daily basis, and to make time for their maintenance. Just as you maintain your car, your HVAC systems, or your garden, you require regular attention to function well. And habits, both positive and negative, are a huge part of how we function in the world. Incorporating a new healthy habit into our daily routine can be a challenge as humans tend to gravitate to what is familiar. One frequently successful method is to connect an established habit with a new behavior that we want to become a habit. This is called bridging and an example might be to take 2 deep slow breaths every time you brush your teeth. Or, if you start your day with a hot beverage, perhaps that is a good time to stimulate your brain with conversation or memory games. Think of something you do everyday and bridge it with a healthy habit, even one as simple as drinking a glass of water or elongating your spine.
Another often helpful path to starting healthy habits is to utilize the buddy system. Go to an exercise class or take a walk or play a ball game with a friend or friends. Sometimes it seems easier to keep a commitment to someone else than to ourselves, so use that to your benefit if it works for you. Start small and increase your activity gradually. Maybe your first walk is just to the corner and back. And maybe you do more observing than exercising in your first class. We have to start where we are and let go of judging ourselves, remembering that judgement is one of those Conversations for No Change that inhibits us from achieving our goals.
If there is a particular habit that you wish to stop doing, I like the Alexander Technique approach: inhibit and redirect. As soon as you become aware you are doing the thing you want to stop doing, inhibit it by thinking the word stop, or visualizing a stop sign, or remember the Supremes singing “Stop! In the Name of Love” and then redirect your attention to doing something else. Examples: If you find yourself with chronic discomfort from slumping over your computer keyboard or car steering wheel, as soon as you notice you are slumping, stop and change your posture by reaching upward with the crown of your head while opening your shoulders and stretching your spine. If you find yourself reaching for a highly processed snack, stop and redirect to fresh fruit or nuts. Changing habits usually requires the repetition of small changes over a period of time so release any expectations of immediate results and trust the process.
Habits are repeated and automatic, and often without conscious awareness. They become ingrained with repetitive reinforcement and they shape the directions of our lives. And they belong to you, so assert your ownership. Bringing conscious awareness and choice to our behavior patterns allows us to incorporate new and healthier actions to protect our vital rhythms.
"You don't have to use all of your muscles,
only the ones you want to keep."
The Space Between Us
An alternative approach is to pay attention to your rhythms with respect and appreciation on a daily basis, and to make time for their maintenance. Just as you maintain your car, your HVAC systems, or your garden, you require regular attention to function well. And habits, both positive and negative, are a huge part of how we function in the world. Incorporating a new healthy habit into our daily routine can be a challenge as humans tend to gravitate to what is familiar. One frequently successful method is to connect an established habit with a new behavior that we want to become a habit. This is called bridging and an example might be to take 2 deep slow breaths every time you brush your teeth. Or, if you start your day with a hot beverage, perhaps that is a good time to stimulate your brain with conversation or memory games. Think of something you do everyday and bridge it with a healthy habit, even one as simple as drinking a glass of water or elongating your spine.
Another often helpful path to starting healthy habits is to utilize the buddy system. Go to an exercise class or take a walk or play a ball game with a friend or friends. Sometimes it seems easier to keep a commitment to someone else than to ourselves, so use that to your benefit if it works for you. Start small and increase your activity gradually. Maybe your first walk is just to the corner and back. And maybe you do more observing than exercising in your first class. We have to start where we are and let go of judging ourselves, remembering that judgement is one of those Conversations for No Change that inhibits us from achieving our goals.
If there is a particular habit that you wish to stop doing, I like the Alexander Technique approach: inhibit and redirect. As soon as you become aware you are doing the thing you want to stop doing, inhibit it by thinking the word stop, or visualizing a stop sign, or remember the Supremes singing “Stop! In the Name of Love” and then redirect your attention to doing something else. Examples: If you find yourself with chronic discomfort from slumping over your computer keyboard or car steering wheel, as soon as you notice you are slumping, stop and change your posture by reaching upward with the crown of your head while opening your shoulders and stretching your spine. If you find yourself reaching for a highly processed snack, stop and redirect to fresh fruit or nuts. Changing habits usually requires the repetition of small changes over a period of time so release any expectations of immediate results and trust the process.
Habits are repeated and automatic, and often without conscious awareness. They become ingrained with repetitive reinforcement and they shape the directions of our lives. And they belong to you, so assert your ownership. Bringing conscious awareness and choice to our behavior patterns allows us to incorporate new and healthier actions to protect our vital rhythms.
"You don't have to use all of your muscles,
only the ones you want to keep."
The Space Between Us
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