Noteworthy

To continue with your habit lists, separate your unconscious habits from your conscious habits. Do you have a conscious habit?

Okay, I will give you a brief example: I try to respond to my personal text messages the same day (if I am sleeping or it is too late, at least the next day). I am conscious with this habit. There are many reasons why it is not always easy to reply promptly, of course but I make a concerted effort to reply as soon as I can. I maintain a standard that is important to me.

 Let me take this example a bit further. Those who work in the corporate world actually have service standards, and performance is based on meeting those standards, as per the values of the company, and thus is paid to follow the delivery standards of a role/position.

So too we all have standards. As individuals we operate according to acquired, learned standards; some of which is part of our upbringing or learned, some which we emulate, and some acquired through our various experience that become part of our own personal make up. The difference with our work realities and our personal lives is that we are not paid to upkeep any standard. Too often we spend more time perfecting our work lifestyle and fall short in our personal world.

Standards are important and the habits/actions that we engage in consciously have importance to us. Conscious or unconscious, actions and habits become part of your life process.

Here’s a question for you, “Would you pay yourself for your own personal standard? How much do you think your personal standards are worth to yourself or others around you?” (This question is not about self judgement. It is about objectively reviewing your habits.)

The Habit Exercise is not difficult but it can take us to certain depths of understanding of our process by taking inventory of what we do consciously and unconsciously.