Treat #87
: Changing habits
More learning from China…Challenged by my client to eat “properly” with chopsticks, I started practicing diligently. He said: “if I can learn Ctrl-Shift-K, then you can learn to eat with chopsticks.”
In the beginning, I didn’t get a lot of food into my mouth as I had not yet mastered my new habit. There was one moment, while eating lunch in a very fancy restaurant, that I noticed myself pick up the fork (that was put out for the American girl) out of sheer habit. Another client I was with noticed what happened and exclaimed - “put down that mouse!” We laughed.
During our work, I coach clients to stop using the mouse and switch to short cut keys. Ctrl-Shift-k is an Outlook short cut key to create a new task. If you use Lotus Notes or Palm Desktop then the short cut key will be different. Clients often plead with me to keep using the mouse and tell me it is so much easier. I tell them it’s just that they are not used to the command keys and, when they practice, they will see the time saved.
When I picked up the fork I felt the habit of using a fork in my whole body. I saw the strength that a habit has and that to switch it requires focus and attention. I know that changing habits can be liberating.
So in this new year, let’s all pick something that is a habit of ours that, if changed, would make an impact on our lives, and commit to shifting it.
For me the one habit I would most like to switch is saying out loud: I can’t see without my glasses. My new words are: I am seeing clearly without my glasses. I found an amazing teacher here in Ojai and, in one session, I learned what I need to practice to begin seeing without glasses. The approach includes letting your attention look first and then let your eyes follow. Allow the eyes to look at a specific piece of a letter or word or image vs. trying to force the eyes to take the whole thing in all at once. Sound familiar? I am in awe of the shift almost immediately. Looking in new way relaxes the eyes and opens the clarity of vision. Relaxing my focus and looking at one thing at a time is going to allow me to see without glasses. Imagine that…what I teach in my work is what my eyes need. What synchronicity!
For some of you whom I have coached, switching from hunt and peck typing to typing without having to look at the keyboard could be a great habit to change. Another one of mine would be to stop finishing other people’s sentences.
Whatever you choose will be perfect for you. You are welcome to post your habit-changing choice on my blog on the entry titled: Changing habits. Or email me. Remember to put your outcome on your project list, expressed as a completion…for example, I easily see now without glasses.
Over the next six months I will review the blog and email entries and pick a star habit-changer who will receive one day of coaching from me.
Happy new habit!
Martha Invitations
1.Make a list of habits you would like to switch and hold and review the list until you are ready to pick one and begin.
2.I have heard it said that if you will do something consistently for 32 days you can switch a pattern. Remember, if you miss a day simply start over at Day 1.
3.Ask a colleague/friend/spouse to support you changing habits by acknowledging you when you are doing something differently. Be sure to remember to do the same for yourself.
4.If you notice yourself doing the habit you prefer not to, gently invite yourself to switch. Inviting yourself out loud can be effective
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