What habits do you subscribe to that result in good, and what habits do you regularly engage in that do not foster the good possible? When we begin to consider our lifeways with greater scrutiny, we can see long held habits that produce good results, and long held habits that are harmful.
Language
To consider the language you use wth scrutiny, you will find that some language you use is natural because it is the way your family has always used language. Yet, some of that language passed down through the ages may not be positive and may produce unhealthy or unhappy results. For this reason, it is good to analyze your language patterns to better the words and phrases you use as well as the quantity of words and regularity of talk.
What words empower? What words energize? What regularity and patterns of language lead to the best results?
Actions
What daily actions and routines bring out the best in you and those you love and endeavor with? When you live with the same people over time, you fall into routines that can be life enriching or life draining--it's good to assess that now and then to improve your overall routine. And when you begin working with new people, it's time to create new routines that enrich all of your lives in healthy, happy ways. As much as possible we want the kinds of routines that bring out the best in us now and into the future.
Thoughts
Even thought patterns can be positive or negative. We typically develop thought patterns early on from the environment and times we were brought up in. Since the world is always changing, we also have to update our thought patterns. What thought patterns positively impact you, and what thought patterns are detrimental to you.
Cultural and societal routines
Too many cultural and societal routines are based on a world that no longer exists. As an educator, I suffered daily under routine expectations that were inhuman, oppressive, and de-energizing. Too short lunch breaks, insufficient time for planning and personal needs, oppressive leadership structures and actions, and too many children to serve in deep, transformative ways sucked the energy out of me and diluted the good possible on a daily basis. This is a major issue in education--the infrastructure of most schools has not kept up with the potential possible for transformative education. Old dehumanizing routines obstruct the good possible while exhausting those on the front lines and unduly empowering those distanced from the daily work of teaching well--there's tremendous room for improvement here.
The same is likely true in other industries as well as family life. There are multiple cultural and societal routines that have to be re-looked at and improved to empower and energize us in ways that matter.
Today I'll take a hard look at the language, action, thought, cultural, and societal patterns that exist in my daily living, and I'll assess what is working for the better, and what is not working. This is good lifework that will surely empower the way I live and the happiness factor in my life. Onward.