Old Habits Die Hard

Old habits die hard. It’s true. But we just have to try to make a change and start change within ourselves. Cliché? Yes. But it’s the truth. It’s a principle. If we want change we have to look at the inward-outward approach.

I’ve learned a lot through the years especially now that I’m working. I’ve attended a lot of trainings and workshops lately and even talks and sharings – things that contribute to my personal and spiritual beliefs…my paradigms basically that affects my social and professional relationships. It’s tough, but I don’t need to tell you that. You know for yourself. You’re in a tough one, too. But it’s amazing how I try to apply everything that molded me.

I have my shortcomings and I’m glad that I’m aware of some of them and that other people give me feedback. I appreciate that especially when delivered constructively. It humbles me. That means I know what I should work on. By knowing my strengths and weakness I get to know me, who I am and what I can be…or who I want to be.

I’m in this transition period from being way dependent on my parents, elders, teachers & the like to having this little-independence-of-a-ball growing bigger and bigger everyday! It’s good how I’m independent at the same time dependent on others too. You can’t be too much of any of them. We have to be inter-dependent. A balancing act is the best way to strive for. And the best way to demonstrate this is in every aspect of our lives – our personal, spiritual, physical and social life (or anyway you may want call it). That means more responsibilities as well because we have to manage all those, and it’s really tough fitting them in a one-day’s schedule.

And so I pause to check where I am right now and where I’m headed. I take it easy and slowly. Because if I join the rat-race, it may be good that I’m flourishing, say with my career and finances…but what about other relationships? Money is important but our life is not about money. Money does not constitute success, rather a tool for success.

One of the many things I learned with my workshop on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is the thing about time management. Time management, as I learned, is not about managing your time...it’s about managing your relationships. We have to know the things that matter most to us then we prioritize that, then everything else follows.

For me, two things: my God and my family. Basically it all boils down to them. Career, money, earthly possessions…I want those too…but that will not be my priority…not at the expense of what’s important for me. But I didn’t say I’m a saint. It’s a work-in-progress. I still do struggle…everyday…for old habits die hard.

I want to leave this passage for you to reflect on. It sure enlightened me. And so I share…

When God wants to make a man He puts him into

some storm. The history of manhood is always

rough and rugged. No man is made until he has

been out into the surge of the storm and found

the sublime fulfillment of the prayer: "O God,

take me, break me, make me.

The beauties of nature come after the storm. The

rugged beauty of the mountain is born in a storm,

and the heroes of life are the storm-swept and

the battle-scarred.

You have been in the storms and swept by the

blasts. Have they left you broken, weary, beaten

in the valley, or have they lifted you to the

sunlit summits of a richer, deeper, more abiding

manhood and womanhood?

(Selected from Streams in the Desert Devotionals)