Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits.
Our
character
,
basically
,
is
a
composite
of
our
habits
.
"Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny," the proverb says.
``
Sow
a
thought
,
reap
an
action
;
sow
an
action
,
reap
a
habit
;
sow
a
habit
,
reap
a
character
;
sow
a
character
,
reap
a
destiny
,
''
the
proverb
says
.
Habits are powerful factors in our lives.
Habits
are
powerful
factors
in
our
lives
.
Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character and produce our effectiveness or ineffectiveness.
Because
they
are
consistent
,
often
unconscious
patterns
,
they
constantly
,
daily
,
express
our
character
and
produce
our
effectiveness
or
ineffectiveness
.
As Horace Mann, the great educator, once said, "Habits are like a cable.
As
Horace
Mann
,
the
great
educator
,
once
said
,
``
Habits
are
like
a
cable
.
We weave a wire of it every day and soon it cannot be broken."
We
weave
a
wire
of
it
every
day
and
soon
it
can
not
be
broken
.
''
I personally do not agree with the last part of his expression.
I
personally
do
not
agree
with
the
last
part
of
his
expression
.
I know habits can be learned and unlearned.
I
know
habits
can
be
learned
and
unlearned
.
But I also know it isn't a quick fix.
But
I
also
know
it
is
n't
a
quick
fix
.
It contains a process and a matchless will.
It
contains
a
process
and
a
matchless
will
.
Those of us who watched the lunar voyage of Apollo 11 were transfixed as we saw the first men walk on the moon and return to earth.
Those
of
us
who
watched
the
lunar
voyage
of
Apollo
11
were
transfixed
as
we
saw
the
first
men
walk
on
the
moon
and
return
to
earth
.
But to get there, those astronauts actually had to break out of the huge gravity pull of the earth.
But
to
get
there
,
those
astronauts
actually
had
to
break
out
of
the
huge
gravity
pull
of
the
earth
.
More energy was spent in the first few minutes of lift-off, in the first few miles of travel, than was used over the next several days to travel half a million miles.
More
energy
was
spent
in
the
first
few
minutes
of
lift-off
,
in
the
first
few
miles
of
travel
,
than
was
used
over
the
next
several
days
to
travel
half
a
million
miles
.
Habits, too, have huge gravity pull-more than most people realize or would admit.
Habits
,
too
,
have
huge
gravity
pull-more
than
most
people
realize
or
would
admit
.
Breaking deeply imbedded habitual tendencies such as delay, impatience, criticalness, or selfishness that violate basic principles of human effectiveness includes more than a little willpower and a few minor changes in our lives.
Breaking
deeply
imbedded
habitual
tendencies
such
as
delay
,
impatience
,
criticalness
,
or
selfishness
that
violate
basic
principles
of
human
effectiveness
includes
more
than
a
little
willpower
and
a
few
minor
changes
in
our
lives
.
"Lift off" takes a very hard effort, but once we break out of the gravity pull, our freedom takes on a whole new dimension.
``
Lift
off
''
takes
a
very
hard
effort
,
but
once
we
break
out
of
the
gravity
pull
,
our
freedom
takes
on
a
whole
new
dimension
.
Like any natural force, gravity pull can work with us or against us.
Like
any
natural
force
,
gravity
pull
can
work
with
us
or
against
us
.
The gravity pull of some of our habits may generally be keeping us from going where we want to go.
The
gravity
pull
of
some
of
our
habits
may
generally
be
keeping
us
from
going
where
we
want
to
go
.
But it is also gravity pull that keeps our world together, that keeps the planets in their orbits and our universe in order.
But
it
is
also
gravity
pull
that
keeps
our
world
together
,
that
keeps
the
planets
in
their
orbits
and
our
universe
in
order
.
It is a powerful force, and if we use it effectively, we can use the gravity pull of habit to create the cohesiveness and order necessary to establish effectiveness in our lives.
It
is
a
powerful
force
,
and
if
we
use
it
effectively
,
we
can
use
the
gravity
pull
of
habit
to
create
the
cohesiveness
and
order
necessary
to
establish
effectiveness
in
our
lives
.
Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits. "Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny," the proverb says.  Habits are powerful factors in our lives. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character and produce our effectiveness or ineffectiveness.  As Horace Mann, the great educator, once said, "Habits are like a cable. We weave a wire of it every day and soon it cannot be broken." I personally do not agree with the last part of his expression. I know habits can be learned and unlearned. But I also know it isn't a quick fix. It contains a process and a matchless will.  Those of us who watched the lunar voyage of Apollo 11 were transfixed as we saw the first men walk on the moon and return to earth. But to get there, those astronauts actually had to break out of the huge gravity pull of the earth. More energy was spent in the first few minutes of lift-off, in the first few miles of travel, than was used over the next several days to travel half a million miles.  Habits, too, have huge gravity pull-more than most people realize or would admit. Breaking deeply imbedded habitual tendencies such as delay, impatience, criticalness, or selfishness that violate basic principles of human effectiveness includes more than a little willpower and a few minor changes in our lives. "Lift off" takes a very hard effort, but once we break out of the gravity pull, our freedom takes on a whole new dimension.  Like any natural force, gravity pull can work with us or against us. The gravity pull of some of our habits may generally be keeping us from going where we want to go. But it is also gravity pull that keeps our world together, that keeps the planets in their orbits and our universe in order. It is a powerful force, and if we use it effectively, we can use the gravity pull of habit to create the cohesiveness and order necessary to establish effectiveness in our lives.