Friday, March 05, 2010

Forget willpower, give me habit

Used to file my nails.  Got out of the habit.
moar funny pictures

Little things really do add up.

Fr'instance, if I eat a piece of Saturated Fat, it is so much easier to have that glass of wine or chocolate eclair. On the other hand, if I do my scheduled run, it is much easier (alas, not "so much") to do the next scheduled run.

Success builds on itself, just as failure does. Alas, failure has gravity on its side: it's so much easier to fail than it is to succeed. At least, it is until I pound it into my brain and my body, over and over again, that I will exercise and I will eat right. Then habit, the body's love of the familiar routine, takes over and keeps me going.

Give me habit over willpower any day.

Of course, right now I'd settle for either. Have you seen my motivation anywhere? Could've sworn I had it a few weeks ago. I just put it down somewhere...

Exercise du jour: 4.5 miles jogging
FAIL. I did try. Ended up walking 3 miles instead. Will try again Sunday.

13 comments:

Roxie said...

Amen! I just wish good habits were as easy to form as bad ones. From the looks of your stats, you've got the good exercise habit down cold.

Hilary @ Tiny Glow said...

Word. If I had to rely on willpower to keep me on this journey, I wouldn't stand a chance! My emotions on any given day can be all over the place.

Building new habits, though, is something I am gaining confidence in. That's something I can do.

Theresa said...

Your motivation is not over here in Scotland. Take my word for it.

The Merry said...

Damn. That would've been a good excuse for a road trip.

Gina Fit by 41 Maybe 42 said...

Workin' on the good habits to replace the bad and the ugly.

I think I saw Motivation hanging out with Commitment somewhere.

As always, I enjoy your writing.

VRaz60 said...

Motivation has not been sighted here in Iowa!! And if it ever is....I'm keeping it!

josie said...

Sorry I haven't seen your motivation anywhere around here either. I'll bet if you look real hard, you'll see it's been with you all along. :) Persevere, my friend, persevere!

solarity said...

Coincidentally, I was asked in a job interview yesterday "What motivates you?" I answered off the top of my head "I don't think I have any motivation. I just get up every morning wanting to know what happens next."

Mary Anne in Kentucky

solarity said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
messymimi said...

Yes to habit being stronger than willpower.

I'm blessed in that my motivations wake up screaming and hungry very early, thus making it impossible to not get up and get on with matters. I don't recommend my methods unless you want to spend your days at the mercy of hungry kittens most of the year.

C said...

Could not agree more. After a week of unadulterated sloth and partial gluttony, I could really use a good habit right about now.

Dr. J said...

Well said and so very true!!

Tara said...

Motivation smotivation...

What we have is determination!