“Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.” - Mark Twain
Yes, I did my prayer, kriya and meditation. Yes, it was a challenge. Yes, I am beginning to give in to my character defect of being a sloth. Grumble GRUMBLE. Trying to change ones habits is at best an extremely big challenge. Especially, since I've taken on several potentially life altering changes at once! It is my intent to stop smoking by the 21st of this month, prayer, do a kriya and meditate daily, write this blog daily and do some form of cardio for 20 minutes a day. ANGRRGGGMMMTTT! So what one is lagging? The cardio! I don't mind exercise especially in light of the fact that I spend most of my life "beating myself up" because of my physical appearance. It's only logical to exercise. Okay, well my logic does not always serve my reason. So just for today, oh and yesterday too, I'm going to not do cardio but be mindful of what I eat!
Next! Prayer - check. "remove my defects of character, give me strength to do good works, forgive me for my shortcomings" Did I mention that I seriously thought I could say this once and viola - my character defects would be instantly taken from me? Apparently prayer does not work that way. Work being the optimum word. So I'm gonna have to work my way out of them just as the butterfly works its way out of its cocoon. UNDERSTOOD.
Today I tried a new Kriya. Wow am I really that resistant to change? A Nabhi Kriya to strengthen the navel center. You know the solar plexus chakra yellow in color. The navel center is the seat of our physical well being. It was our life line in the womb - our umbilical cord that feed us nutrients and attached us safely to our first world. How I often long to return to that place of ultimate security. The navel center is also the seat of many addictions especially smoking, A strong navel center is a requirement for being able to commit and keep your commitments to yourself. Daily practice to strengthen the navel center is the first commitment we need to make to ourselves. So I intuited the correct Kriya for my journey, but I can't say it was - Wow, like a stroll on the beach! Rather, it was difficult. I had to stop several time during the 5 to 15 minute sets, then resume purely for the sake of hoping that someday diligence will pay off when forming new habits.
Another change I made was for the meditative journey. And I just realized while blogging that I did not do a meditation - I did an intermediate kriya to live young for a long time! ARRRGGHHH...grumble...roar!!! And thus this day began with sleeping late, coffee time interruptions and no meditation.
But I did see Lagan as I relaxed in between Kriyas. He relaxed with me under the Bodhi tree. I ask to have more clarity on his physical appearance and I was given a further glimpse. He does not have fur as I previously thought. He is human looking but petite in stature. His hands are small and warm. We held hands under the tree. He said that instead of struggling so hard to pull myself forward in life - I should reach back and take the hand of someone struggling. That's an interesting twist. I perceive myself to have nothing to offer - but today I know that somewhere someone needs me...even if it's just my own kids.
Peace and blessings.
13 Things to Avoid When Changing Habits
1.Taking on two or more habits at once
2.Not committing a plan to paper
3.Being half-committed
4.Not having support
5.Not thinking through your motivation
6.Not realizing the obstacles
7.Not logging your progress
8.Having no accountability
9.Not knowing your triggers
10.Not doing your reading
11.Changing focus too soon
12.Not being consistent
13.Quitting after failure
http://zenhabits.net/2008/04/13-things-to-avoid-when-changing-habits/
