我們從出生開始，就養成各種習慣。在飲食、運動、作息，以及其他做事或思考等各方面，習慣總是不知不覺地影響著我們，有時甚至讓我們陷入身體或心理上的困境。從普遍的觀念和行為上看，我們對習慣的危害不夠警覺。因此，我們有必要對習慣作深入的剖析，並發掘讓意識取代習慣的可能性。
我們先看看本能，這是無意識的習慣。舉例來說，有些動物會在排泄後本能地掩埋排泄物，這樣做能減少被獵食的風險。但即使在混凝土地板上排泄，它們也會做出掩埋動作，而不知道這樣做是無效的，更無法避免被捕食者追蹤。這使它們的掩埋本能失去保護作用。除本能之外，其他習慣是在日常生活中養成的。有些習慣危害較小，例如對食物的偏好，但有些卻可能損害我們的健康，例如吸煙或喝酒。從這些例子中，我們可以看到習慣對生命的潛在危險。習慣還有影響深遠的缺點。當它變成身份的一部份，我們往往會因為堅持習慣而忽略別人的感受，對人際關係造成負面影響。
雖然習慣也有一些作用，能在意識不能及時反應的時候，使我們不經思考而高效地運作。例如，當遇到突發危急情況而即將摔倒，我們會本能性地用手撐住地面，讓自己的頭部有機會不受傷。但在大多數情況下，習慣是不必要的，甚至是一種障礙。當需要主動做出一個摔倒的動作，如果不能克服本能習慣，而繼續用手撐住地面，那麼我們就無法完成任務了。這個例子凸顯了培養意識並擺脫習慣的重要性。因為大部份時候都不會發生危急的情況，而且我們越有意識，就越能避免出現危急的情況。
然而，要擺脫習慣並不容易。除了我們對習慣有所依賴，困難也源於一種根深蒂固的誤解，以為習慣可分為好習慣和壞習慣。我們最需要的是自由，可以從這個角度去探討習慣。心理學研究告訴我們，所有習慣都會造成倚賴，而倚賴越多自由就越少。所以，無論是好習慣或是壞習慣，只要限制了我們的自由，就是有害的。唯有正視習慣對生活的負面影響，從理性和感性兩方面認識到習慣對生命的危害，我們才會真正願意去除它。
習慣與意識的有著本質的區別。習慣是一組固定的記憶和程序。按照習慣來行動，我們就像程序化機器那樣，一成不變。而意識是靈活的感知和預測。當有意識地行動，我們就會充份考慮自己的處境，並調整目標或方法。例如，當我們按照習慣而不加思考地刷牙，就會有時刷得不潔淨，有時又會用力過度，讓牙齒受損。這種無意識的刷牙方式，甚至會使我們忘記是否已經刷過，讓刷牙的次數過多。但如果每次刷牙都考慮口腔的情況，以及如何更潔淨和適度，我們就會改進刷牙的方法，或選擇更好的器具，讓牙齒更健康。因此，習慣是進步的障礙，而意識卻是進步的動力。
習慣的缺點主要是阻止意識的發展。在生活中每形成一個習慣，都意味著我們在那個方面的意識已經停止成長，危險也隨之增加。例如，定時飲食或運動，這是被評為健康的習慣，但也可能對我們的健康不利。這是因為，習慣會導致我們忽視身體老化或環境的改變，無法意識到有時需要調整飲食或運動時間、方式和節奏，從而增加健康上的風險。相反，如果生活中的每一個行動，我們都有意識地進行，而不是被習慣所驅使，就能不斷地審視自己的選擇和行為，並根據當前的情況來調整，讓健康得到充份的保障。
另一方面，習慣也是人際關係中最大的障礙。習慣就像一面牆，讓人與人保持距離而無法接近。例如兩個來自不同地域的人組成家庭，各自堅守以前的生活習慣，他們的關係就不會緊密，甚至會因衝突而分開。因此，如果我們想建立良好的關係，就必須先放棄習慣，尤其是那些會破壞人際關係的習慣，例如不友善和情緒化。即使在不同的文化中長大，只要他們願意放下習慣，也可以生活在一起，並彼此相愛。因為愛是一種意識，而不是一種習慣，擺脫習慣並以意識與別人融合，我們就能相愛。
總的來說，生活中的許多困難，都是由堅守習慣而不願意改變造成的。因此，我們應該注重意識的培養而不是習慣的形成，讓意識取代習慣。即使是刷牙、洗手等生活小事，也應該按實際需要來決定是否要行動、如何行動，而不是按照習慣行動。當去掉習慣而變得更有意識，很多困難就會被排除，我們的生活也會更順利。這使我們有更充裕的時間，去學習新知識或技能。
既然習慣有很多壞處，而意識先進，我們應該著手擺脫習慣。這需要設定一些具體、可衡量並有時間限制的目標，以便我們追蹤自己的進步。例如，我們可以將擺脫熬夜習慣設為目標，用一個月作限制，記錄每天的睡覺時間。如果能夠達成目標，我們再檢視自己的身體和精神狀態是否比早睡前更好。當發現自己從改變中得益，我們就會感到喜悅，在以後就會早睡，這樣習慣就被擺脫了。值得強調的是，我們不應該為進步而設定物質上的獎勵，也不應該為不良習慣尋找替代品。因為這樣會產生新習慣，違背去除習慣的初衷，無助於培養意識。例如，我們不應該在早睡後的第二天早上以甜點獎勵自己，這樣會形成吃甜點的新習慣。
擺脫習慣意味著擺脫無意識的行為，讓意識指揮行動。透過清楚了解每個行動的目的、方法，充份預測可能的結果，並事後總結和反思，我們就能作出更多有意識的行動。例如說話，我們需要知道說話的原因和對象，安排好自己的言辭和語氣，並努力讓別人更容易聽明白。說完後也需要觀察別人的反應，這樣才能提高我們說話的能力。有意識地行動需要付出更多時間和努力，但減少了出錯的機會，也為我們帶來更多樂趣，對延緩大腦衰退有莫大的裨益。
當成功擺脫了習慣，我們就會深刻認識習慣的危害，以及擺脫它所能獲得的益處。當我們按照一方的傳統習慣做事，就會讓其他人感到不舒服。或者按照小時候的習慣說話，我們就會引起很多誤會和衝突。而透過擺脫習慣，我們就能有意識地經營一個良好的關係，而不是把關係變成一種習慣。最重要的是，我們會認識到，意識才是我們真正的自己。只有透過意識來生活，我們才能感到自己真正存在，並最大限度保障自己的生命。因此，無論有多大的困難，讓意識取代習慣都是值得我們努力的方向。
讓意識取代習慣，最終也是為了意識的成長。生命像一輛汽車，意識就像駕駛員。如果駕駛員任由汽車依慣性行駛，不僅會發生意外，也無法提高他的駕駛能力。任何能力都是在運用的過程中提高的，而意識本質上是駕馭生命的能力。生命的衰老和死亡，是我們成長的侷限。如果任由生命受本能和習慣的控制，我們就無法獲得更多的成長機會。因此，為了更健康和長久的生命，並讓自己不斷成長，我們必須讓意識取代習慣。
73. 洞察事物的真相 (上一篇)
75. 愛是創造幸福的行動 (下一篇)
.jpg)
The path to Tranquility (74)
Let consciousness replace habits
From birth, we develop various habits. In terms of diet, exercise, work and rest, and other aspects of doing or thinking, habits always affect us unconsciously, and sometimes even put us into physical or psychological difficulties. From the perspective of common concepts and behaviors, we are not alert enough to the dangers of habits. Therefore, it is necessary for us to conduct an in-depth analysis of habits and explore the possibility of replacing habits with consciousness.
Let’s look first at instinct, which are unconscious habits. For example, some animals instinctively bury their feces after excreting to reduce the risk of being hunted. But even if they defecate on the concrete floor, they will make burying movements without knowing that doing so is ineffective and cannot avoid being tracked by predators. This renders their burying instinct lose its protective effect. Besides instinct, other habits are developed in daily life. Some habits are less harmful, such as food preferences, but others can harm our health, such as smoking or drinking alcohol. From these examples, we can see the potential dangers of unconscious habits to life. Habits also have a far-reaching disadvantage. When they become part of our identity, we tend to ignore the feelings of others in order to stick to the habit, which will have a negative impact on interpersonal relationships.
Although habits also have some effects, they can enable us to operate efficiently without thinking when our consciousness cannot respond in time. For example, when we encounter a critical situation and are about to fall, we will instinctively hold the ground with our hands to give our head a chance to avoid injury. But in most cases, habits are unnecessary or even a hindrance. When we need to take the initiative to make a falling action, if we cannot overcome our instinctive habit and continue to support the ground with our hands, then we will not be able to complete the task. This example highlights the importance of developing consciousness and breaking out of habits. Because most of the time, critical situations will not occur, and the more conscious we are, the better we can avoid critical situations.
However, getting rid of a habit is not easy. In addition to our dependence on habits, the difficulty stems from a deep-rooted misconception that habits can be divided into good habits and bad habits. What we need most is freedom, and we can explore habits from this perspective. Psychological research makes us realize that all habits create dependence, and the more dependence, the less freedom there is. Therefore, whether it is a good habit or a bad habit, as long as it restricts our freedom, it is harmful. Only by facing up to the negative impact of habits on life and recognizing the harm of habits to life from both rational and emotional aspects can we be truly willing to get rid of them.
There is an essential difference between habits and consciousness. Habits are sets of fixed memories and programs, and by acting on them, we act like programmed machines, set in stone. Consciousness is flexible perception and prediction. When we act consciously, we fully consider our situation and adjust our goals or methods. For example, when we brush our teeth according to habit without thinking, sometimes we brush not cleanly, and sometimes we brush too hard, causing damage to the teeth. This unconscious way of brushing our teeth can even make us forget whether we have brushed, causing us to brush too many times. But if we consider the condition of our mouth every time we brush our teeth, and how to be cleaner and more moderate, we will improve the way we brush our teeth or choose better appliances to make our teeth healthier. Therefore, habits are obstacles to progress, but consciousness is the driving force for progress.
The main disadvantage of habits is that they prevent the development of consciousness. Every habit in life means that our consciousness in that aspect has stopped growing, and the danger increases accordingly. For example, eating regularly or exercising are habits that are rated as healthy but can also be detrimental to our health. This is because habits can cause us to ignore physical aging or changes in the environment, and fail to realize that we sometimes need to adjust the time, method, and rhythm of our diet or exercise, thereby increasing health risks. On the contrary, if we take every action in life consciously rather than being driven by habits, we can constantly review our choices and behaviors and adjust them according to the current situation, so that our health can be fully protected.
On the other hand, habits are also the biggest obstacles in relationships. Habits are like a wall that keeps people at a distance and prevents them from getting close. For example, if two people from different regions form a family and each sticks to their previous living habits, their relationship will not be close, and they may even be separated due to conflicts. Therefore, if we want to build good relationships, we must first let go of habits, especially those that destroy relationships, such as unkind and emotional. Even if they grow up in different cultures, they can live together and love each other as long as they are willing to let go of their habits. Because love is a consciousness, not a habit, by getting rid of habits and integrating with others with consciousness, we can love each other.
In general, many difficulties in life are caused by clinging to habits and being unwilling to change. Therefore, we should pay attention to the cultivation of consciousness rather than the formation of habits, and let consciousness replace habits. Even for small things in life such as brushing teeth and washing hands, we should decide whether and how to act based on actual needs, rather than acting according to habit. When we get rid of habits and become more conscious, many difficulties are eliminated and our life goes more smoothly. This gives us more time to learn new knowledge or skills.
Since habits have many disadvantages and awareness is advanced, we should start to get rid of them. This requires setting some specific, measurable, and time-bound goals so that we can track our progress. For example, we can set a goal to get rid of the habit of staying up late, use a month as a limit, and record the time we sleep every day. If we can achieve our goal, we will check whether our physical and mental state is better than before going to bed early. When we find that we have benefited from the change, we feel happy and go to bed early in the future, so that the habit is broken. It is worth emphasizing that we should not set material rewards for progress, nor should we look for substitutes for bad habits. Because this will create new habits, defeat the original purpose of removing habits, and will not help cultivate consciousness. For example, we should not reward ourselves with dessert the morning after going to bed early, as this will form a new habit of eating dessert.
Getting rid of habits means getting rid of unconscious behaviors and letting consciousness direct actions. By clearly understanding the purpose and method of each action, fully predicting the possible results, and summarizing and reflecting afterwards, we can take more conscious actions. For example, when speaking, we need to know the reason and target of what we are speaking to, arrange our words and tone, and try to make it easier for others to understand. We also need to observe other people's reactions after speaking, so as to improve our speaking skills. Acting consciously requires more time and effort, but it reduces the chance of error, gives us more pleasure, and has great benefits in delaying brain decline.
When we successfully get rid of some habits, we will deeply understand the harm of the habits and the benefits of getting rid of them. By doing things according to the traditional habits of one party, we make the other person uncomfortable. Or if we speak according to our childhood habits, we will cause a lot of misunderstandings and conflicts. And by getting rid of habits, we can consciously manage good relationships instead of turning the relationship into a habits. Most importantly, we realize that consciousness is who we truly are. Only by living through consciousness can we feel that we truly exist and protect our life to the maximum extent. Therefore, no matter how difficult it is, letting consciousness replace habits is a direction worth our efforts.
Letting consciousness replace habits, is ultimately for the growth of consciousness. Life is like a car and consciousness is like the driver. If the driver allows the vehicle to run on inertia, not only will an accident occur, but it will also fail to improve his driving ability. Any ability is improved in the process of application, and consciousness is essentially the ability to control life. Aging and death in life are the limitations of our growth. If we allow our life to be controlled by instincts and habits, we will not gain more opportunities for growth. Therefore, for a healthier and longer life, and to allow ourselves to continue to grow, we must let consciousness replace habits.
On July 16, 2023
留言
發佈留言