Look inward to move forward

Habit 66 to Fall into Better Habits

We need to look inward to move forward. And introspection will lead the way.

Introspection, therefore, is the path to peace.

The dictionary defines INTROSPECTION this way: “The observation of one's own mental and emotional processes.” BINGO! That’s exactly what we’ve been practicing all along in order to let go of an old habit to establish a new, better one.

(#take a good look) Image courtesy of Unsplash

Only when we look on the inside can we change anything on the outside. Because everything we experience within shows up, in one way or another, all around us.

So let’s choose to be more mindful of what we’re thinking and how we’re feeling. The technique in today’s Baby Step can help with that.

BABY STEP

In order to get a good view of what’s going on inside our hearts and our heads, it helps to lay it all out so we can take a better look at it. Then we can track it and tweak it so we can transform it.

Today’s Baby Step challenge is to track your thoughts and emotions for one week...

This is not meant to become a full-time job. All you are required to do is notice how you feel and then ask yourself, “What was I just thinking about?” Take note, particularly at these times:

• each morning when you wake up

• each day when you get to where you planned to go for the day (work, an appointment, the laundry room, Aunt Tillie's house, etc.)

• each evening before you drift off to sleep

Finally, give an overall rating for the day 0-10 (with 10 being the best rating).

At the end of the week, take note of the fluctuations in your moods and your thought patterns. This data is super helpful in disrupting the repetitive behaviors that have kept you stuck.

Is this work? A little bit. But, it’s actually a lot less work than having to deal with old, worn-out situations that no longer serve you and frustrate the hell out of you.

Besides, you’re worth the effort.

So, if you’d like to move forward in your life and experience more peace in the process, take the following advice. It’s a quote by Robert Frost that my beautiful cousin sent to me a while back.

“The only way out is through.”

Yes indeed.