09/29/2025
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Will Durant (paraphrasing Aristotle)
One of the first things I do every morning after I wake up is make a pot of coffee. If I have the luxury of a decent roast on hand, I’ll drink it black. Often though I will have a less fresh roast requiring some oat milk and honey. I’m faced each time with a minor annoyance, squeezing the 32oz bottle of bulk Costco honey, which is cumbersome and usually a little messy. I’ve had this bottle for a couple months, and it’s been bothersome most mornings.
Until this morning, when it occurred to me that there is probably an easy solution to this habit that I’ve found myself engaging in without realizing it. I could just purchase a better bottle that causes less mess! I laughed at myself when I realized how simple the solution was, and how I had almost unconsciously chosen to continue putting myself through the frustration.
Humans are creatures of habit, which is actually a great benefit to us as we navigate life’s complexities. Actions that otherwise might require cognitive energy can become second-nature, leaving mental bandwidth for more important things. But sometimes we find ourselves engaging in habits that hold us back, often without realizing it. We default to negative self-talk when someone critiques our work. We lash out at our spouse without thinking because we’re so used to the fight. And sometimes the solutions, alternative habits, are staring us right in the face if we’re willing to pause, do some self-reflection, or seek outside perspective (like that of a therapist).
If we can train ourselves to continue in patterns of behavior that don’t work for us, we can also retrain our habits to benefit us. Simple adjustments can reduce friction and lead to positive change in our lives, and you have everything you need to begin.
