Sometimes the quickest way to discover more of yourself is to interrupt the person you have become accustomed to being.
Change one small habit—and watch what wakes up.
In our day-to-day journeying, we notice and comment on many things.
But have you ever stopped to consider that we all focus on different things?
Sure…some things we look at in common—the rain, a sunset, a sandwich, clothing, people passing by—but the journey itself is very exclusive to the user.
That would be you…and me.
One fun way to increase our personal awareness is to interrupt some of our habits.
Habits can become hypnotic. They train us to accept the same movements, thoughts, reactions, and routines without questioning them.
Some habits are good.
Others…not so good.
So what then?
Become aware of what you do, what you do not do, and what happens inside you when you change it.
Try these on for size.
1. CHANGE SIDES
Men, change the pocket where you carry your wallet.
You may be surprised by what comes out of you when you do. I do not want to spoil the experience for anyone. Get your own experience.
Women, carry your handbag on the other arm.
It sounds simple until your body begins asking, “What are you doing?”
That question is awareness beginning.
2. MOVE YOUR WATCH
Put your wristwatch on the opposite wrist.
A whole different set of sensations may kick in.
For the bold, stop wearing a watch for a while and notice how often you instinctively look for it.
Today, many of us could do the same thing with our phones.
3. BRUSH WITH THE OTHER HAND
Brush your teeth using your opposite hand.
This one can be hilarious—and messy.
You suddenly realize how much coordination is hidden inside something you normally do without thinking.
The moment the automatic becomes difficult, awareness enters the room.
4. CHANGE THE FAMILIAR
Try a different shampoo, deodorant, soap, or toothpaste.
Change the order in which you apply them.
Notice how strongly the mind prefers the familiar—even when the familiar is nothing more than a routine.
5. CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET
Throw out, donate, or release what you no longer use.
This is symbolic.
You may discover a part of yourself that has been hidden behind the things you kept.
I have had to clean out my closet several times. I could not decide what to keep and what not to keep until I finally did the mother of all cleanings.
Each time, I was in torment over throwing something away. I gave everything the time test.
Eventually, my closet became so clean and organized that I could not even tell you what used to be in there.
I was free of it.
Sometimes we do not realize how much yesterday we are storing in today.
6. QUESTION THE INVISIBLE LAW
Whenever we throw something away, a crazy invisible law seems to appear from another planet:
“As soon as you throw it away, you will need it.”
Watch this one.
Most of the time, it is not true.
It is simply attachment trying to negotiate one more day.
7. CHANGE THE SOUNDTRACK
If you listen to music constantly, turn it down occasionally.
If you rarely listen to music, turn it up.
Do some of the harmless things you normally resist.
Growth often waits just beyond familiar behavior.
I highly recommend karaoke—in front of a mirror, in the shower, or inside your car.
This has nothing to do with being any good at it.
You are good enough to hear yourself.
8. REMEMBER WHAT KIND OF GROWTH WE SEEK
What type of growth are we seeking?
Mental.
Emotional.
Spiritual.
Physical.
Psychological.
In other words…life.
9. TRY THE OPPOSITE
The general rule is to occasionally do the opposite of what you would normally do.
Now, do not go nuts here.
Use common sense.
If you are usually quiet, speak.
If you always need to be first, try going last.
If you regularly lead, follow.
If you always follow, step forward.
The possibilities are endless.
We are not trying to become somebody else.
We are trying to discover how much of ourselves has remained unused.
10. CHANGE YOUR APPEARANCE
Try fixing your hair differently.
Women often understand the power of this immediately.
Men, experiment with yours. If there is not much left, perhaps go boldly in the direction nature has already suggested.
Consider shaving differently or changing the familiar face you present to the world.
These small changes can become symbolic ways of exposing more of yourself.
11. EAT WITH THE OPPOSITE HAND
Eat with your opposite hand.
Slowly, you may bring it to a higher level of coordination.
Your reflexes, thinking, pace, and eating habits may begin to change.
You may even taste your food differently simply because you are paying attention.
12. LISTEN TO THE BODY BEFORE EATING
Become familiar with the difference between genuine hunger, routine, boredom, and compulsion.
Pause long enough to listen to your body, but do not ignore medical needs or push yourself beyond what is sensible.
Then eat as an act of care for the body—not merely as an automatic command.
There is a meaningful difference between eating to live and living only to eat.
Awareness helps reveal it.
13. STEP OUTSIDE YOUR USUAL SURROUNDINGS
Visit a neighborhood, community, shelter, service organization, or part of town that is different from the one you normally experience.
Do not go there to stare or judge.
Go respectfully.
Listen.
Observe.
Serve when possible.
There are tons of things to learn when we step outside our familiar world.
You may rediscover the meaning behind the old saying:
“I complained about having no shoes until I met someone who had no feet.”
Perspective does not always arrive through thinking.
Sometimes it must be encountered.
Look…no one has to know you are doing any of this unless you choose to share it.
What you may receive from these experiments is a higher awareness of your surroundings—and of how you relate to them.
It is referred to as personal growth.
Be careful not to become willful about it.
Be playful.
This is not punishment.
It is exploration.
In time…more of you will appear.
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
https://pearlsforthesoul.com
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