06/10/2025
Mindfulness can seem like a silly thing, to some, but it can really change your nervous system and actions, I have prided myself on being speedy but it can be from anxiety, impatience and pride, resulting in clumsiness and always seeking the future vs now. Ticht Nhat Hanh is one of the wise elders I have learned from. Here you go:
When asked, "How can we be aware of and change bad habits?" Thich Nhat Hanh answered:
"Negative habit energy always tries to emerge, but if you are mindful, you recognize it. Mindfulness helps us to recognize the habits transmitted by our ancestors and parents or learned during our childhood. Often, just recognizing them will make them lose their hold on you. Suppose you have the habit of getting into a hurried state while doing such things as shopping or cooking. With mindfulness you recognize that you are rushing around and knocking things over, trying to finish quickly. Then you realize that the energy of being in a hurry has manifested itself. So you breathe in and out mindfully, and you say, 'My dear habit energy, here you are again.' And as soon as you recognize it, it will lose its strength. If it comes back again, you do it again, and it will continue to lose its strength. You donโt have to fight it, just recognize and smile at it. Every time you recognize it, it becomes a little bit weaker until, eventually, it canโt control you anymore."
-Thich Nhat Hanh, "Answers From the Heart"