Changing old habits, (and starting new ones) can be a difficult task.
… and the cycle continues.
It can be hard to make this stop — especially when it comes to our digital habits, which often occur on platforms designed to minimize boundaries, managed by companies with a vested interest in our continued habitual use.
Sometimes the thing we need most to break a habit is some sort of permission from a source other than ourselves, assuring us it’s OK to make a change, take a chance, try something new.
Well, I’m not your mom, your therapist, or maybe even your friend, but I can give you that permission if you want it.
Although we live in an culture that worships “the cult of busyness,” the “side hustle,” and being “always on,” it’s OK to opt out sometimes and practice habits that instead put your needs and desires first.
As much as it may seem like you need to respond to every text immediately, watch the latest Netflix show as soon as it’s released, or be constantly striving for success, you really don’t.
As we talked in Week 15, it’s positive and healthy to establish habits that distance you from anything in your life causing unhappiness or pain.
That decision is solely yours to make. Even if everyone in the whole world thinks something is cool, it’s still OK to decide it’s awful for you and give it the boot.
Even if you can’t immediately change a habit, you can change the silence that surrounds it and start sharing your feelings about that habit more regularly.
Because if a habit makes you sad or angry for a day, that’s likely no big deal, but it’s practiced, (or observed) for years, those feelings can add up and start to become disruptive and even damaging.
If you need it, let this post serve as permission to start changing old habits or behaviors in your life that currently aren’t serving you well. Or, feel free to print out the permission slip below and give yourself permission instead.
Remember these changes will probably feel awkward at first and will not always be rewarded with admiration and praise by others. But you know what? People will get over it. You might be surprised by how quickly everyone adapts, (including yourself).
If someone complains about the changes you’re making, you also have permission to say, “I understand your frustration, but this is something I need to do right now for my own health and happiness.” Then, leave it at that. You have permission not to deal with it if they choose to have a subsequent hissy fit.
Thank you for stopping by! We’re in the home stretch on this eCourse. Next week we’ll talk about ways to quiet the digital noise and distractions in your life. I look forward to seeing you then and hope you continue to be healthy and safe.
1. Continue to drop by my blog or Medium account each Saturday where you can read the weekly post at your leisure, or…
2. Subscribe to this email list and I’ll send you a post each Saturday.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this course as we go. Feel free to leave comments on any of the posts or email me at jen@jenkane.com if you’d like to share something privately
I’m a consultant, strategist, author, educator, and speaker with more than 30 years of professional experience. I’m passionately curious, fairly sassy, kinda dorky and seriously good at what I do.
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