Seeds of thought: Part 2 of a 4 part series
Within any seed lies the potential for great beauty, great strength and wisdom. All it needs is proper nurturing for it to burst forth in divine time and splendor.
Ponder, contemplate, nurture and discover more. Teachings are guidelines that assist us on the journey of finding our own way, our own heart, and our own true deep connection to All That Is. Recognition brings ignition. Once ignited, we can then lighten up just a little more.
Seed #2- Habits
Habit by definition is said to be a settled or regular tendency – one that is hard to give up.
***** Please keep in mind that if you have developed a habit that feels good to you, lifts you up, continues to have life within the activity, and adds to the quality of life, that is a tendency you would want to continue to nurture. This post is bringing a seed of thought regarding habits that some may not have considered. As with all my posts: take what works for you and leave the rest 🙂
When it comes to unhealthy habits, such as excessive drinking, over eating, smoking and so on we can make logical sense of why this ” habit ” must come to an end. Still the challenge is great. The tendency is to follow the dictates of the habit and override the good sense of maintaining the health of the body. The behavioral pattern is strong and is in nearly every sense of the word the “leader” of the life being led not lived. No one would like to think or admit, for example, that alcohol or food are leading their life but the truth speaks for itself.
Habits create a structure limiting the true needs of the body. If you think of this structure as a prison you get a pretty good idea of how limiting a habit is regarding the true needs of our whole selves. Habits override the sensitive response of the body. Adhering to an imposed learned behavior does not provide openness for a true response. On some level all who are enslaved by a habit know that its effects extend and affect the mental body as well as the emotional body. The torture of opposing thoughts that play out when one continues to participate or attempts to break free from a habit can make one exhausted, feeling out of control and out of touch.
Some Other Possible Habits:
What of the habit of complaining, of engaging in or starting negative conversation and/or gossip? Are you in a habit of saying negative things about your self, your surroundings, or life in general? Are you in a habit of talking negatively about your body to yourself or others because of its shape or health condition? Are you in a habit of wearing rose colored glasses for every situation ignoring your true feelings? What about saying “yes” to every request that comes your way whether you want to comply or not? Are you in a habit of saying “no” to every invite adhering to isolation? These are habits that wreak havoc with the body, mind, spirit, and soul. Consider what you may have incorporated into your daily life that has become a habit, a regular tendency that is not adding to the quality of life.
When digging a little deeper we can discover judgments and denial fueling the need or choice to adhere to habits. A lack of self worth, self love, and self acceptance can fuel the choice to remain attached to a habit that is destroying the body and life in general. It is interesting to note how easily we can identify a so called ” bad” habit like I mentioned earlier ie. smoking, drinking etc. but what of a so called ” good ” habit. Habits are habits and if the structure of a good habit is overriding the sensitive response of the body, how “good” is it really?
A few common examples:
1) Exercise. Of course we all know exercise is good for the body, however, if one is overriding the sensitive response of the body, exercise takes on a different tone. An example: “ I run everyday no matter what. I push myself even when I don’t feel like it.” Now a fine line is being drawn here because there are times when giving ourselves a little push is what takes us to the next level. Here again, knowing yourself and hearing the voice of your body is all-important. However, if this person pushes everyday giving no honor to the voice of the body that speaks of sore muscles, a need for rest or painful joints, some part of the body will break down. This is when the person has created a situation of forced rest by incurring an injury. The habit overrode the sensitive and wise response of the body. The judgment here could be, “I have to run or I will get fat. I have to run or I will get depressed.”
2) Food/Diet: Are you someone who says, “I never eat this or I always eat that.” If your body is happy and your energy is vital then you are most likely giving your body what it needs. If it isn’t perhaps listening more closely to the needs of the body may have you relaxing in your “always/never” approach to nutrition. The body may have different needs during different times of the year. A change in season whether it be the seasons of the year or the seasons of ones life can call for new and varied nutrition to maintain balance. Free yourself from strict habits to hear the true needs of the body.
3) Techniques, ritual or ceremony: When techniques, rituals or ceremonies become habits or crutches and one is merely going through the motions, growth slows and then stops. This is your signal to let them go. Remain in the stillness; be patient with the emptiness for a time until a fresh new insight or inspiration comes to you and it will. Then, with renewed energy and passion involve yourself in the techniques, rituals or ceremonies that are infused with life and love.
Consciously Live in Balance:
We are in the best shape physically, mentally and emotionally when we are living in balance, when we live consciously and honor the needs of the body, mind, spirit, and soul moment by moment, day by day. We are exhibiting great personal power when we are leading our life consciously with love as the guiding light rather than the dictates of a habit. With love as a guiding light we do not ignore the needs of our body, our mind, our spirit and our soul. With love guiding us we are spiritually awakened and treat others with the same love and respect as we treat ourselves. We do not override the needs of others any more than we override our own needs.
Becoming conscious of the judgments and denials that are adhered to, making habits so powerful, will set anyone free from such if they have intent to be free. Discover your true nature, it is free, it is powerful and it is beautiful. If your true nature is imprisoned in a habit, know that it longs to be free. Any move you make to break free will be supported by Source. Trust that you can hear true guidance to live your life whole, happy, and free!
I planted a seed of thought. Nurture it with your attention. Ensure you are not living life one habit after another. Ensure you are living life awake and aware making choices that reflect the true needs and calling of the moment each and every day. There is so much to be grateful for. Living life free from self imposed constraints is one of them. Sharing our love freely with others is another.
to your freedom and the liberation of your love 🙂
love, Astara
