Greetings Readers!
Today’s meditation is Part VIII of our Perennial Habits course. Previously we discussed: How to See the World — Like a Sage (Part VII), A Simple, But Not Easy Stoic Exercise (Part VI), and What Do You Want Out of Life (Part V). As a reminder, our next virtual meetup is on The Art (and Practice) of Stoic Wisdom. It’s scheduled for Wednesday, May 10th (at 6:00 pm EST); you can register here.
The Psychology of Behavior Change
In this episode, I’m sharing a recent conversation with my friend David Alexander on the psychology of behavior change (along with a course review below). David is a psychotherapist from New Mexico and co-host of the Between Two Ravens podcast.
In the conversation, David and I discuss,
The Stages of Change
Stoic Exercises
Mindfulness
The Art of Showing Up
Structure and Flexibility
Being a Friend to Yourself and much more
As a reminder, if you’re interested in becoming a member but unable to afford it. Feel free to request a complimentary membership or use this discount link for anyone who might need a little help.
Perennial Habits (Course Review)
It is beneficial to periodically review the principles and strategies we’ve discussed around change. As you probably know firsthand, it’s challenging to remember the need for clarity, the role our thoughts play, and the power of tiny changes. Below you’ll find a brief mid-course review and links to meditations if you’re interested in exploring these ideas further!
1. Clarity Desolves Resistance
In the case of habits, there is no such thing as too much clarity. Change is easier when we know the how, why, and when. This insight is probably no surprise to the Sundays with Seneca listeners. Seneca consistently urged Lucilius to know where he was headed or to pick a destination. We all experience the same problem, observed Seneca. We are harassed by instability and boredom due to our constant change of purpose.
According to the Heath brothers,
Ambiguity is exhausting to the Rider, because the Rider is tugging on the reins of the Elephant, trying to direct the Elephant down a new path. But when the road is uncertain, the Elephant will insist on taking the default path, the most familiar path. … That’s why decision paralysis can be deadly for change—because the most familiar path is always the status quo.
Simply put, regarding habit change, we are wise to be as clear as possible! Strangely, perennial habits like memento mori, contemplation, and the dichotomy of control can help us to find this much-needed clarity. […]
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