Come on admit it. You know exactly what I am talking about. Do you go for a walk every morning or do you grab a cup of coffee or do you jump in a cold shower or an ice bath, or I sure hope not, a cigarette. So here is my theory for this blog. We are basically simple animals that are driven chemically. We crave dopamine and other feel good chemicals. How about some oxytocin and endorphins? Sex anyone? with someone or even alone. I know not you, you just grab your phone to see what you missed, LOL. PS its not a theory we are all merely stupid animals that are driven by our chemicals. Those that succeed simply made different choices to get those happy chemicals.

Sure hope you are not down the Facebook rabbit hole. Talk about what we should ban. I tried to reply to a work inquiry, and that dam algorithm, showed me a cute kitten a gorgeous architectural home. “what was I even on Facebook for?

Do you get it? I know you are not stupid. Whatever you do its a habit. Make your bed, dont make your bed, go for a run or a walk. Everything you do creates chemicals in your mind and body. Some of them are down right ecstasy.

So here is what I did the past two days. I stopped myself from thinking stupid and any repetitive thoughts. Do you really need to regurgitate the thoughts from yesterday? The problems are still there, you know what you are going to do, no need to think about it. PS if there is something you need to do, do it. If not leave it to your subconscious, let go of it if there is no action you need to take.

Yesterday during a nap, (I was hard core landscaping from 6am to 10:30 with a helper) over 6 miles of steps according to my phone. So I did a quick meditation and self hypnosis session it dawned on me, I used to have phenomenal habits; Running 5 miles a day, listening to tapes (long time ago, remember them?), a shake, no carbs, gym for weights, reading, continuous learning. Vs today; a mere video game here and there, I need a break (yea right), back on coffee, not running, talking too long on the phone vs seeing people and doing things. Lets even compare that one habit.

What happened? Was it covid? Didnt we all used to go out with friends a few times a week? Yes even then there was some inertia, but didnt you feel great after seeing a friend, or friends? How did we get sucked into Zoom and Facetime? Its actually natural. Back to my initial theory (actually fact), not only do we have more technology to “see” people without leaving our home, there is one more natural chemical nature of our humanity we need to acknowledge. We are designed to survive. Survival is hard wired to conserve energy. Humans survived without agriculture for millions of years. You are hard wired to conserve energy, to rest in between the occasional kill of an animal to eat, to avoid bitter poisons to gravitate towards sweets. Sweets are not only a quick source of energy for your brain, it creates different chemical releases in your body and brain and some say is addictive, as your blood sugar yo yos. In fact you are even hard wired to pick an easy decision so your brain doesnt waste glucose.

Gee what do you think this is a recipe for? Do the math. You have habits, doing the same habit, no matter how bad it is for you is easy, breaking a habit is hard. Your old habits literally gives your brain one, or maybe a few “happy chemicals”. Your habits are your life. Hmm maybe the next post. Seriously are you a coffee drinking, cigarette smoking, fast food eating fat mess? Ok I know no one reading this is there. You wouldnt waste your time reading, even a two minute blog. So lets talk about you. How about an audit? Lets add up the wasted moments in your life. Do you have a half hour coffee ritual in the morning, or a half hour walk? They are both habits. Do you watch TV for a half hour in the morning. I know, not you, you get your news from your phone WRONG. You are more likely to get on other apps get distracted by an ad, or something that those evil algorithm makers know for certain, you like.

Its actually hard today to stay on track. Maybe if you have six or twelve children, you dont have time to be distracted. But you really need to decide are you going to own your habits? Or are your habits going to own you? Because if your habits own you, you are literally no better than a junkie. The only difference is the nature of your fix. Heroin might be better for you to create happy chemicals in your brain and body. It literally doesnt do any phsyological damage. That phone of yours is emitting radiation, probably burning your retinas, the blue light is keeping you awake at night, maybe its even the source of your tinnitus or we might all get brain cancer 50 years from now. Cell phones havent been around that long. So you can be a junkie all day long with your favorite TV show, your favorite app, your daily run to Starbucks or McDonalds or maybeeee….. let go of some of your bad habits, and even dare I say? let go of your “stinkin thinking” You just might be happy and have enough time to knock a few items off of that to do list, with 100 things on it. Or you might do that thing you said you always wanted to do. PS “stinking thinking is a habit too. There are countless rewards for “familiarity” You are comfortable sitting in your warm pile of steaming shit. You found friends who like to vicariously see you suffer.. Yikes! We have so much more to look at, discuss and learn. But if you literally let go of one habit today or replace one habit today you are literally on the road to creating a different legacy for your life. I am not kidding. What do you think a one mile walk vs a cup of coffee with the news would do for you? Thats an easy 15 pounds a year, let alone the sunshine creating happy chemicals in your brain and resetting your circadian rhythm for great sleep. It would be a cascade of great effects. And its like that for everything. How about a 10 minute read or self hypnosis session vs a video game or a dive down Pinterest or Facebook? The possibilities are endless, just get the needle out of your arm for starters. PS I read from the famous neurologist that even a mere 5 minutes of sun first thing in the morning resets your circadian clock for better sleep. Why not start with that and see how far you feel like walking. I remember in my twenties when I started running. It started with 2 telephone poles, then 3, then a block, two blocks, then to the mail box. Incremental progress. Go for it.