Refining Habits and Self-Control

I think many of us--if not all of us--could say that we have some habits that we would like to break. I certainly know that I do! I have a tendency to procrastinate and manage my time badly. There are times when I have been motivated enough to manage my time well, and I am really much happier when I do.

But part of what it means to be human, I believe, is that we are in a constant struggle with the natural urge to take "the path of least resistance". We are always making decisions about whether to indulge out appetites and passions, or to do what we know must be done.

I think one of the most interesting things that I learned this week (though there is so much that was interesting to me), was that there is much in those natural desires that can be used to help us achieve our goals.

George Leonard, whose book on mastery our class has been studying for the last couple of weeks, teaches that it is important to acknowledge one's "dark side", or that natural side of our natures, but not to let it be master over our lives. We can access the energy that being frustrated or angry (for example) calls up in us, and direct it toward productive pursuits, rather than simply getting angry or being frustrated. In this way, we do not "suppress" or "hide away" those "forbidden parts of our personality", which he describes as unhealthy, but we do not let them take over, either.

But if we are to achieve this, we must first have our priorities straight. As part of out lesson this week, we reviewed briefly the "7 Habits of Highly Effective Men" established by Steven R. Covey. The third habit is that of putting "First Things First". When I am doing well in managing my time, I know what needs to be done first, and can use my desire to do something else (be it a more pleasing assignment, reading a book, or watching TV) to motivate me to get things done. These principles are things I've already seen at work in my life, but they are things that I have yet to master.

Yet as I've learned from George Leonard, the path to mastery is not one that is a constant slope upward, but one that comes in increments. You just have to keep trying.