How to Break a Habit
Posted on October 4, 2009
Filed Under Awareness, Consciousness | 5 Comments
Consciousness and the mind; are they the same thing? Over the years I have found that my mind has been more than capable of playing tricks on me – so much so, that many times I have found myself falling into a habit or two; bad habits, good habits, nail biting habits…all sorts of things. But what causes this? How does the mind create such things? And I ask myself again and again, how to break a habit.
A dictionary definition of a habit, naturally isn’t at all difficult to come by:
Habit: an acquired behaviour pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/habit
Of course, “how to break a habit” can’t be found in a dictionary.
So there we have it a “behaviour pattern”. Ultimately, almost everything we do is a behaviour pattern isn’t it? There’s a great speech by Jiddu Krishnamurti, where he speaks of our daily routines; waking-up, showering, cleaning teeth, having breakfast, going to work etc. He says these things are habit, because we do them robotically without thought. That’s not something I can argue with, I look at my own life and see the truth in his words.
So is life a habit? Well I think that all depends on whether or not we go about life ‘consciously’; that is to say, “with lucid awareness of each of our actions and thoughts”. That sentence brings us closer to a distinction between ‘mind’ and ‘consciousness’. If we go about life ‘robotically’, then sure – life becomes a habit – the mind takes over and we run on autopilot. Conversely, if we become conscious of our own actions – then we start ‘watching’ our own mind. We pay attention to what it is thinking, and the actions it is causing our body to perform. There’s the key then…right there…
Who is watching the mind?
After all, if we can ‘watch’ our own minds…then it follows that the ‘watcher’ isn’t the mind but something external to it. Is perhaps the ‘watcher’ somewhere deeper in the realms of our consciousness? What if we sit and watch the watcher then? That is – watch ourselves watching our mind. Think about that one. Or don’t think. Perhaps thinking can also be considered a habit; “How long does it take to break a bad habit?”, “How to change bad habits?” – and so on. These thoughts and questions in themselves eventually become routine thought based habits.
So…how to break a habit? Well for me, the process always has started with stepping ‘outside the mind’ – into that location where we find our ‘watcher’. The watcher is indifferent to habit and routine, these things are of no consequence to the watcher as such things are entirely bound within the constructs of the mind. When we become the watcher – we immediately become ‘aware’ of our thoughts and our actions, and that also means that each ‘habit’ becomes a conscious action because we are watching it and aware of it. The instant we are aware of something, we gain the option of choice; ‘free will’. Thus we start to move with more seriousness and awareness into our own consciousness. This can be done without habit and without routine based behaviour patterns.
This is where so many people make a mistake. When they attempt to break or change a habit, they do so through an effort of thought; they attempt to think their way out of the habit. Or alternatively, they re-program their mind with new behaviour patterns. The latter option is slightly more effective, however this too can be carried out without much awareness. This is because when we live inside our minds, we are bound within the walls of our mind; tied into its rules, beliefs and behaviour patterns.
Becoming aware of our behaviour patterns doesn’t automatically make them ‘easy’ to change. However, what does happen, is that we begin to move away from automatic ‘robot-like’ habit based behaviour, and into conscious awareness. And this can make all the difference in the world.
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Just wanted to say, I hope your thoughts are back soon my friend, seems ages since the last.
[ Quote ]You rightly said, ” …the process always has started with stepping ‘outside the mind’ – into that location where we find our ‘watcher’.”
The attitude of being a watcher becomes more perfect as the intensity of awareness is enhanced. This detachment from self is the key step in breaking any habit – the separation allows you to replace your automatic (habitual) behavior with a better new behavior. Repeating this several times significantly weakens the old behavior and the new one begins to take root.
I look for more such insightful articles from you. Thank you.
[ Quote ]Kind of Interesting?
“I Crack Myself Up!
NOTE: If you think about this you’ll miss IT. Don’t agree/disagree, analyze or in any way try to fit this into what you think you know.
Alright, I’m going to write here what I “just” saw, but I want to preface it with, “I can’t see what I don’t know” so this is a very limited view. For example, picture yourself sitting in a room the size of all the universes in the existence of form and a light flicking on for a millionth part of a second.
Imagine sitting in a world where there are no “senses”. That means that there is no light, sound, touch, feel, taste, etc. I’ll use the picture of an infinite-sized movie theater. In this theater, everyone and everything that ever has or ever will enter history (the world of form / the physical world) is there with you. As a matter of fact they are part of you.
This “senseless” world of “formlessness” is similar to an infinite ocean in the sense that there is no separation / space and that everything that enters the world of form always remains a “droplet” within the “formless” ocean.
One gift of the formlessness is that instantaneously (infinity) a big bang takes place via the principles of Mind, Consciousness, and Thought. In that moment, an entire experience is created for the droplets within formlessness. In the next moment, another big bang, then another big bang, etc. Each big bang is an individual unique experience for the droplets within the ocean.
Picture a strobe light that is pulsating so quickly that it looks like a solid beam of light. This is like the illusion that human experience is fluid instead of an infinite amount of “big bangs” taking place via Mind, Consciousness, and Thought at an unbelievably high rate of speed.
Now, Mind, Consciousness, and Thought IS formless. More accurately, it is Minthousciousness (I made it up meaning 1). Mind, Consciousness, and Thought IS “Formlessness”.
After the big bang we have human experience. Anything after the big bang is effect. It is a finished product. It is complete and unchangeable. It is anything and everything that we can experience through our 5 senses. It is part of the instantaneous big bang. It is a poor reflection or reproduction of formlessness.
All concepts and I mean all concepts, pictures and thoughts are a distorted reflection. The best reflections represent formlessness. For example, The Desert = No 5 Senses. Tranquility = No 5 Senses. Love = Formlessness.
The key in life is to awaken within formlessness which is where you have been for all eternity. The path is a lack of interest in taking the product (form) of Mind, Consciousness, and Thought as “real”. We are all living a dream…enjoy, wake up, and then create with Knowing!
Who I am within formlessness never changed as I wrote this. My experience of who I am in the world of form never stayed the same. There is nothing within form that is not part of the illusion.
Nick Lee”
Or, how about;
“How do People Change? (Written to myself for myself with little on my mind)
Human Mind: The delivery device of every aspect of an individual’s “experience”.
Source: God – Everything
Hint: There is only ONE thing to talk about. All disciplines talk about the “Source” but some get caught up in the tangible form that the Source takes. If it is discernible to the 5 senses it is “effect”. “Cause” only takes place prior to the 5 senses within the Source. Everything after M-C-T is a compound and a shadow of what we try to relate as “TRUTH”. Every compound is intended to point the individual within themselves to the “Source” of everything. It is only within this Source that an individual can find “Truth”. An individual can never give away or communicate Truth. They can only create stories or pictures or concepts that “hopefully” point people within themselves to the Source of Divine Revelation.
For example;
STORY: A conceptual framework to explain the unexplainable. It does not mean that the event may not have happened but the greatest significance of the event was the world changing within the individual.
The Burning Bush of Moses. A concept to explain that Moses had a insight that forever changed the way he saw life. The burning bush was always within him and was the Source of Truth.
The Fountain of Youth: Again a story of the Source within every living thing that is the Source of all things.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Another Source story.
Jacob’s Ladder: Another story that only refers to the Source within the Human Being.
Saul becomes Paul: The story in which “Christ” appears to Saul and his view of reality is forever changed. “Christ” was within Saul, as with every living thing.
Holy Communion: Jesus of Nazareth was a real person. The place to find the “Christ” NOW is within ourselves and therefore the communion host points us in the proper direction.
I know that this will sound weird and silly to many people who read this. I know that I am inept at relating anything about this Source. Throw what you read here on the back of your mind and ask to understand, not judge or discount it. It may be that you will see that every story about a human being’s relationship to God is a “pointer” to the relationship between the Source of Truth (sometimes referred to as Wisdom or Common Sense) and our ability to create intellectual concepts to relate to ourselves and life. The Source is the Shepard and the Intellect or Ego is intended to be the Sheep. The Ego is the Angel that falls from Grace when it sees itself equal to the Source (God). This is moment to moment and always in a state of fluidity. The term “Open Mind” is not intended to be judgmental. It is a technical, descriptive term that denotes how much thinking a person is doing in any given moment. Feeling is the only accurate indicator of an open mind. The more serene or content the feeling, the more open the mind. Therefore, Love is the only answer because it is the state of mind that is experiencing “divine revelation” or “a-ha’s” in that moment.
There are an infinite number of ways to understand a “wise, insightful thought construct / concept” in spoken or written form. Spiritual / Psychological evolution takes place most readily when an individual puts very little thought into the “framework” relating the insight and applies that concept to the world within themselves. When the insight is applied to the world outside of an individual it is more likely to be wielded as a weapon.
Mind: Intelligent Energy of all Things in Form and Formless. (God)
Consciousness: The Ability and Current “Level of Capability” to Be Aware of what actually IS. (God)
Thought: All Mental Activity Form or Formless and the “Lens” that determines Level of Capability. (God)
Insight: M-C-T that comes from within the individual and before human experience that instantaneously changes that individual. An insight is imperceptible to the individual except through a flawed thought construct / concept (M-C-T in form). An insight is the Source of all “Wisdom” or “Common Sense” concepts ever introduced into the physical world.
Divine Revelation: An Insight. Not the story used to relate the insight. Not available from any source outside of the individual, including their personal thoughts(Ego).
The Kingdom of God: A thought construct used to direct the individual within themselves to the Source of their ability to create all psychological experience (M-C-T).
Infidel: A thought construct intended to direct the individual within themselves and notice their ability to create a “frame of reference” form (M-C-T) that is flawed and at times invisible to that individual.
Butterfly Effect: An insightful concept intended to direct people within themselves to the source of human experience (M-C-T) and then talk about M-C-T in a conceptual form such as; whenever an individual brings to mind a memory it is forever changed to reflect a new experience. An impersonal state of mind (Wisdom) would allow a more evolved, simple, unlimited understanding. A personal state of mind (Ego) would allow a less evolved, more detailed, limited understanding.
Time Travel: In any given moment, the individual has the ability and freedom to transport themselves into any time they wish. Consciousness will bring what a person is thinking to life through their five senses.
Out of Body
Experience: In any given moment, the individual has the ability and freedom to think in a way in which they are not present spiritually / psychologically but they are physically.
Noah’s Ark: The only Source of “Change” or Spiritual Evolution for any individual is that Impersonal State of Mind within themselves commonly referred to as Common Sense or Wisdom. Water is the universal symbol most readily used throughout history to describe this Source. This conceptual framework of an insight was intended to direct the individual within themselves to the “Flood Waters” that will wash away imperfect thoughts yet leave intact the spiritual essence of the individual.
Not the Physical Person
Buddha: Common Sense
Christ: Common Sense.
Krishna: Common Sense.
Muhammad: Common Sense.
Chi: Common Sense.
Conscience: Common Sense.
Divine Revelation: Common Sense.
The Kingdom of God: Common Sense.
The Zone: Common Sense.
Wisdom: Common Sense.
Common Sense: Like a doorway to M-C-T within the individual that is not contaminated by the outside world of personal thought or “Ego” within that individual.
Ego: M-C-T in the form of an “image of self importance”.
Ego: Infidel.
Ego: Satan
Ego: Intellect.
Ego: The Trickster in Native American Religion.
Ego: Demon Possession.
Ego: Spiritual Blindness.
Ego: Spiritual Deafness.
Ego: MCT in the form of Imagination.
Feeling: (Story) Like MCT’S way of awakening the individual to the % of imaginative thought distorting moment to moment experience.
Feeling: (Story) Like an in the moment, GPS Indicator of Common Sense (degree of discomfort indicates to what degree the individual has strayed from the doorway to formlessness).
If you re-read this many times WITHOUT actively thinking about what you are reading, you may have insights come to mind. If that happens, you are forever changed so that your way of seeing life will become more simple, obvious, and loving.”
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