Habits and Learning

Habits and Learning

Here’s the audio link for this newsletter: http://tiny.cc/lsc4101

Habits are good, as they are patterns we explored that began to wire into our nervous system.  This started in our infancy, and believe it or not, in utero!  You don’t want to get rid of your habits or patterns that awaken quickly, so you don’t have to think about everything you do, but it’s really important to begin to create comparisons so you can increase how you do what you do, especially when there are repetitive strain injuries we all experience throughout our lives.  Our habits may be less than optimal, and yet, because these patterns activate automatically, slowing to notice what you’re doing and, more importantly, how you are doing these daily rituals often need to be re-evaluated, especially if someone instructed you to do it their way.

“The truly important learning is to be able to do the thing you already know in another way. The more ways you have to do the things you know, the freer is your choice. And the freer your choice, the more you’re a human being.” -Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais

Yale-trained endocrinologist Florence Comite said, “Normal doesn’t mean healthy.” In fact, our normal habits are not always the most efficient.  Being committed to learning and improving the quality of our lives is paramount for me, as well as for the people who come to me seeking help when everything they’ve been trying and been told to do hasn’t improved their current circumstances.  Things change, and we can’t control everything, but we can begin to recognize when we’re doing the same things over and over again, and nothing is improving.  This pattern is often referred to as compulsive, neurotic, and rigid.

“Don’t allow your rituals to become your ruts.” – Todd Henry

Too often, we work to improve something we’re already good at.  Nothing wrong with that; however, what if you turned your attention to something you’re not so good at to learn and create new inroads into how you think, feel, and move?  This is a perspective I share with many when what they used to be able to do no longer feels like it is helping them.  It all starts with being curious instead of being good at something.  Training is a process, you become a trainee to learn and grow, not just for physical endeavors, learning how to play an instrument or another language, singing, cooking, think of all the things you might awaken to and how to learn them without all the habits from what we already have wired into our being.  For many who have experienced life-changing events, you have to learn new ways to move forward, and what better way than to work with another who will encourage you to make mistakes to learn from.  May they be small mistakes that allow you to make comparisons that lead you to other, more optimal ways to do what you need and want.  Remember that humility and curiosity are the benchmarks for progress.

I hope I’ve earned the privilege of your time and attention this week, and welcome your sharing and communication.

Warmest,

Peggi