Create Habits that Generate Joy
Emotional Tools for Better Living, Tips
Living your life results in many choices, which are a part of your everyday routine. Before they became a routine you had to consciously make them a habit. Everyone remembers being told countless times to brush their teeth; now, twenty years later, if I don’t brush my teeth then my mouth feels gross. It has become such a wonderful habit that I couldn’t do without it.
“Joy is not in things; it is in us”
- Richard Wagner
Making a habit enjoyable is easy if you can find the right emotional leverage. For example I believed in Yoga’s benefits, but I couldn’t get into the habit of doing it on a daily basis. The idea of doing it on a set schedule for a specified amount of time felt painful and daunting. I convinced myself that I didn’t have the time for it. As my lower back tightened and it generated more pain, I knew that I needed to practice Yoga. I just didn’t know how to create the habit. I was so used to the self-discipline method, forcing myself to do what was good for me. It was what I knew best, but it never worked well. My parents were big on discipline, but that only worked because they would constantly stay on top of me to do better in school or brush my teeth. That’s when I had to take a 180° turn on my methods. Forcing myself to create a good habit wasn’t working. I needed a new approach. I looked at all the angles and every good habit I incorporated into my life was done because it made me feel good. That’s when I knew I had it. I had to generate joy to encourage my good habits. I decided to start small
One day almost a year ago, I finished eating my cereal and took a shower, and just as I was getting ready to put on my clothes, I saw a little reminder on my bathroom sink to practice Yoga. My favorite twisting pose popped into my head. I had a chance to enjoy my favorite Yoga pose. For a few seconds I contemplated ignoring that thought and getting dressed, but I remembered how much I enjoyed that one twisting pose. I quickly sat on the floor and practiced my much loved twist, a minute on each side then got dressed. I wanted to do more, but I was already pushing my time limit. That moment stuck with me through the rest of the day. It was like having a tiny piece of chocolate and wanting more. I knew that I was onto a great mental tool, teasing my brain with joy to only desire more.
Now I practice Yoga every morning. I need it. I enjoy the quiet time with some soft music and my body. My back is stronger and more flexible. I’m able to work a whole day without any pain. Morning Yoga has turned into a wonderful habit.
You need to find the habits that bring out your joy. You should try things that make you feel good and do them every morning. Your mornings are the anchor to your daily habits.
Next time you want to start an exercise routine or another lifestyle change, find a way to start small and look for joy in a new routine. If you want to eat more vegetables with your meals, find that one vegetable that gives you the most joy and add it to your meal. Then find the next most enjoyable vegetable and add that one as well. Before you know it, you’ll have a whole array of vegetable which will give you the vitamins that you need to live your optimal life.
Creating a habit by looking for the joy is the best way to make healthy routines a part of your life.
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Karl @ December 5, 2007