" Excellence is not an act but a habit. We are what we repeatedly do." Aristotle

You've heard it said that "Practice makes perfect". Well of course that's only true if you practice perfectly. I suggest that instead of perfect, practice makes permanent. The more we practice a thought, a feeling, a behavior, or a pattern, the more etched into our blueprint it becomes.

So practice smoking, or eating unhealthy foods, raging, getting anxious or depressed, as well as any other limiting or unwanted pattern, and it gets stronger and more enduring--or permanent.
Permanent, that is, until we practice something different which overrides, dilutes, or cancels the former pattern.

The really exciting news about this "practice makes permanent" strategy is that in order to create a lasting positive pattern, all we have to do is practice it. So if you want to feel vibrant instead of depressed, develop a "vibrant" strategy and practice it. If you want to feel calm instead of anxious, develop a "calm" strategy and practice it. This same strategy can be employed for gaining health, becoming fit, creating positive expectancy, becoming more loving, or fun, or prosperous, or...you name it.

Our neural system depends on repetition; so does our learning abilities. Do you not practice weight training when you work out and do sets of "reps"? Wouldn't it be interesting to practice being honest with yourself? How about practicing letting go of unwanted attachments or habits.

We often make things far more complicated than necessary by trying to figure out all the underlying problems in a challenging behavior. I'm all for expanding awareness. In fact, I think that consciousness is the key to all transformation. Practicing positive patterns yields increased awareness.

So what do you really want in your life? Are you willing to practice having it? Then perhaps it's time to start doing the reps as you give up practicing the unwanted thoughts, feelings, and behviors that have probably been around for way too long!

Just a thought.

Gary