Habits in the habitat

One can Never Ever Ever kick off habits, just like " A leopard never change its spots".

The nature of life is not like a digital camera--- snap and delete. We are all painters. Every stroke we decided to brush on the canvas creates an imprint ( samskara). And with multiple imprints, we create a picture... an event.

I remember when i was learning arts in school, i love acrylic painting. And i learnt that, in art, there is no such thing as eraser. If i made any mistake, instead of going on with the wrong colour; i simply wait for the paint to dry and brushes a new coat over. And keep putting it with a more suitable color, to the birth of the picture i wanted.

Before every act happens, is a series of imprints. Even a simple movement of brushing the hair off my face. My face feels ticklish by the hair, sense organ sends the information to the brain, the brain co-ordinates with the hands, and the hand swipe the hair away--- all in a split second. That how amazing our brain works!

Many of us simply say, " Oh, I'll kick this habit". But eventually, find it so difficult to make it happen. Why?

Habit is not something you can kick, not in a snap of finger and it disappear! We need to put in effort, not just effort alone.... painful effort.

Habits, though we can't simply wash them off; we can always add good habits. Top them up, diligently.
Just like how a drop of drain water merge with the ocean. How the ocean embraces the drain water. It's still there, diluted with the good ones. Once my band conductor said to us, " Even if a cut is healed. The scar is always be there. We can always scrub the dead skin, and lighten it.... with continuous effort."

I've personally seen couple of my friends who manage to put in great effort to stop their years of habit of smoking. They were very aware what leads them to smoke. Not always the fault of nicotine. But the habit of have a stick between the fingers... so they snack on Poky-stick!

Some kick off the bad habit of drinking. First by not stepping into places that sell alcohol. And replace them by drinking juices and exercising... which turn out making them feel better!

Just be aware. Be aware what causes unwanted act that leads us to do it unconsciously ( habit). Cut down and divide the impression before the act happen. And replace them with the good ones; or cease the creation of more impression.

If one could not even say "no" to yourself, what's more wanting to say "no" to others?

Our habits form our habitat. No change happens in a click. Injection. Break the vicious routine and inject new habits slowly with full of awareness.
As the famous Ashtanga guru always remind us, " Practice, practice, practice.... and all is coming"

Yes, the leopard will never change it spots. Because it knows that once spotted, always spotted. So it creates more beautiful spots instead...