“To rid yourself of old patterns, focus all your energy not on struggling with the old, but on building the new.”
— Dan Millman (Way of the Peaceful Warrior)
Good advice concerning any habit. Not doing things is way harder than doing other things instead. Right now I’m building the habit of keeping a daily diary. It’s liberating and rewarding, being able to look back on your thoughts. I learn things about myself, and as a bonus become a better writer. I know all too well how difficult it is to get started—I’ve been trying for years to make this writing thing become more of a natural part of my life. But once you’ve established the habit you will find that it will feel strange, possibly even painful, to refrain from engaging in it. So after a while you will hardly even think about it any longer; it will just be another natural thing to do, much like eating or sleeping. I’ve found that what works for me is to carry a notebook with me at all times. That way I can write whenever inspiration strikes, and it becomes easier to make time for it.
Just go ahead, if you’ve been meaning to do it. Stop making up excuses, just get a notepad and write. A word, a sentence, or a page. Even if it is just nonsense in the beginning, I promise that it will do you good in the long run. Try it out every day for a week, and then keep going if you like it. Then at least you can say that you have tried.
Love and writing,
Winterdragon
