I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel.
At just the right moment, I light the match.
— Mia Hamm
A habit is desire objectified — “the continuous character of
one’s thoughts and feelings” — desire for something that will
give satisfaction. At the root of all habit is one basic thing:
the desire to express life.
— “The Science of Mind,” page 22

     Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi recognized and named the
psychological concept of flow, a highly focused mental
state. His work also includes the study of happiness
and creativity. In an interview, he described flow as “being
completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls
away. Time flies. Every action, movement and thought follows
inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole
being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.”
To achieve a flow state, a balance must be struck between the
challenge of the task and the skill of the performer. If the task is
too easy or too difficult, flow cannot occur. Both skill level and
challenge level must be matched and high; if skill and challenge
are low and matched, then apathy results.
     Other research has shown us that habits are hard to change.
When we continually do something, we create new neural pathways
in our brains. As we walk to work or drive the cart along
the same 18 holes day in and day out, those pathways become
deeper. It’s like riding a mountain bike down the same, narrow
trail that thousands before have used. Suddenly, there don’t seem
to be too many other choices, and the one we have isn’t as satisfying
as it once was. Habits are just activities or actions until we
label them “good” or “bad.” Olympic athletes wouldn’t be where
they are without stellar training and dietary habits.
     Take an inventory of your spiritual habits. What do you love
about your practice and what would you like to change, eliminate
or grow?

AFFIRMATION

I gently realign and release old habits to support the glorious being
that I am.

Daily Guide Friday February 23, 2018 – Science Of Mind Magazine