Habits: What Are They?

What is a habit?  Thefreedictionary.com defines a habit as "A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition."  It also states a habit is an addiction.  I find the unconscious part of the definition interesting because I see people using their unconscious systems all the time to move from one place to the next. 

When we stand up to go outside we don't have to think about how to move.  No one pauses to contemplate exactly how they are going to stand to move unless they have a problem moving.  Once we learn how to walk, we do it so much that it becomes unconscious...just like habits. 

We don't have to stop to think about things like tying our shoes, brushing our teeth, preparing our breakfast or taking a shower.  The only reason we have to pause to give thought to these activities is if something has changed that would render our habit no longer helpful. 

We have habits that help us complete tasks, but what about habits that help us communicate with one another and ourselves?  How do habits impact the way we think?  How do habits impact the way we feel about ourselves and those around us?

When it comes to growing, making progress, getting stronger, building emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health, I believe we need to pause to look at the habits we are currently relying upon to survive.  We also need to be mindful regarding the new habits we form.

A Collection of Habits and Conditioned Reflexes

Are we mostly a collection of habits and conditioned reflexes? 

Thoughts lead to behaviors which lead to habits which help in forming conditioned reflexes.

Eagles Wings

Have you ever had a moment in your life when you were able to totally let go of your situation and let God take over?  Do you remember what that felt like?   I sometimes imagine those moments as though I am flying like an eagle.  Exodus 19:4 states "You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to me."  Isaiah 40:31 states, "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

"Life is a journey that is not about

a destination, but a transformation."  (Character in the movie To Save a Life)  I love this quote.  One of my favorite scriptures is, "Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will."  (Romans 12:2)  I have also heard John Maxwell comment about the process being more important than the event.

The Heart

Andy Stanley has a great podcast series called, "It Came From Within."  The following are questions he states he asks his kids before they go to bed to check on the condition of their hearts:

1. Is everything ok in your heart?
2. Has anyone hurt you today?
3. Has anyone broken a promise to you today?
4. Has anyone upset you today?

Andy asks, "What does it mean to guard your heart?"  He states, "We were never taught to guard our hearts, we were just taught to edit our behavior.  We need to be taught to guard our hearts."

Guard your heart.  Your heart is your wellspring of life.  You lead from your heart.  You speak from your heart.  You act from your heart.    From your heart come your thoughts.  We have to be aware of what goes into our hearts and out of our hearts.

Matthew 12:34  New Living Translation (NLT)

³⁴ You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

Mark 7:20  (NLT)

 ²⁰ And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. ²¹ For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. ²³ All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

Proverbs 14:30 New International Version (NIV)

³⁰ A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Proverbs 4:23 New International Version (NIV)

²³ Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Sharing our dreams (aspirations) part II

As I think more about it, I don't believe it would have mattered whether or not Joseph had shared his dream with his family at such a young age.  It seems God had a plan for Joseph's life.  It's hard to understand how God's plan may have worked in Joseph's life without his brothers selling him into slavery.  It would be interesting to have had two identical Josephs with two identical families.  Have one Joseph share his dream with his family and the other Joseph practice verbal discipline.  Would the same outcome have occurred twenty years later?

Putting the fun back into dysfunctional

Dysfunction is real. Most of us experience dysfunction in our lives in one way or another. Sometimes we are the cause of dysfunction. Sometimes we are born into dysfunction. Sometimes our circumstances put us in the middle of dysfunction and sometimes dysfunction may seem to follow us around wherever we go.   

I am currently reading the Message translation of Genesis 1-42 and can't believe all the crazy, whacked out dysfunction that goes on.  The Message translation puts the stories into modern day terminology and helps me more easily relate to the stories being told.  The assuring and beautiful part of it all is that God hangs in there and pursues his people in spite of their dysfunction.   The assuring part about reading through Genesis 1-42 is seeing how God worked through all of the "craziness" and continued to work toward reconciliation with His people. 

It helps me to remember God understands dysfunction.  He loves us anyway and wants to help us "be transformed" (Romans 12) as we work through the dysfunction within and around us.  Someone once said, "God loves us the way we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way."   He is still working on me.  He is still working on you.  Stay joyful.  Trust God.  Lets put the "fun" back into dysfunctional and kick dysfunction's rear end!

Disclaimer: I read "Let's put the fun back into dysfunctional" on a magnet stuck to a refrigerator one day.  I do not know who first thought of that phrase and published it.