Revelation Eight
Careful not to relapse.
You’ve come so far.
I always find it rewarding to take a glimpse back for the purpose of seeing where I was. Gives perspective to where I am.
You’re reading a continuation of a series. To start at the beginning click here: My Night Revelation or link to the mobile series and read them all in one spot.
Scared is not an excuse.
When we forge something new, break new ground, it’s easy to experience fear. It’s easy to want to return to our safety net, because it’s comfortable and requires so much less effort.
Attempting to create new behaviors can leave us running for cover.
The eighth revelation I received that night last June said, careful not to relapse.
To relapse means to deteriorate after a period of improvement. The last thing we want to do is go backwards.
I’ve been actively learning the lessons of My Night Revelations to this point, and I’ve thought very intently about the previous seven and how they apply to me and my life.
I am putting each one to practical use trying to shape my philosophy and mindset accordingly, as well as my behaviors. Doing so requires rewiring habits and forming new routines.
The process is laborious and a bit frightening.
I looked further into how one goes about forming new habits. I found the following study which is heavily cited and generally accepted on the subject:
In a study carried out at University College London, 96 participants were asked to choose an everyday behavior that they wanted to turn into a habit. They all chose something they didn’t already do that could be repeated every day; many were health-related: people chose things like “eating a piece of fruit with lunch” and “running for 15 minutes after dinner.” Each of the 84 days of the study, they logged into a website and reported whether or not they’d carried out the behavior, as well as how automatic the behavior had felt. The simple answer is that, on average, across the participants who provided enough data, it took 66 days until a habit was formed.
Slightly more than two months, a long time. Yet no time at all in an average life span. A behavior you consider worthy of pursuing, changing or removing is certainly worth that kind of commitment.
Two takeaways, as I see it:
First, you decided to improve on something, you thought about it and you made a decision to let go of, change or develop a new habit whatever the case may be, Then you took action.
Second, the improvement was important enough to pursue so why not see it through, which requires commitment and determination; focus and consistency.
Mental strength is secured in exactly the same way that physical strength is secured, by exercise. We think something, perhaps with difficulty the first time; we think the same thing again, and it becomes easier this time; we think it again and again; it then becomes a mental habit. We continue to think the same thing; finally it becomes automatic; we can no longer help thinking this thing; we are now positive of what we think; there is no longer any doubt about it. We are sure; we know. ~Charles Haanel
What would cause a relapse?
Stagnation, lack of seeing or feeling progress.
This is where turning around for that glimpse backwards I mentioned at the beginning comes into play. Where was I 66 days ago? Ah- progress has been made.
I’d like to suggest that just because something doesn’t appear the way we want it to in our “demanded” time frame doesn’t mean secret “goings on” aren’t taking place in the background. Those times when it may seem like you are not moving forward, although progress is still occurring. Patience is often needed.
Think of change as an endurance event not a sprint.
At the time you embark on any journey, you deem it worthy of your effort. Isn’t it still worthy? Decide that your will shall be unwavering and exercise caution not to undermine your effort.
Don’t lose ground now. Careful not to relapse. You’ve come so far.
What’s next? A sneak peak at the next night revelation. The ninth statement I wrote that night said, “Welcome the spirit with open arms and feel it all around you. You are in the midst.”
MadeYouThink!
Before you go, Paula writes positive daily posts that uplift, inspire, and motivate. Get one to enjoy with your coffee every morning by subscribing below . . .
