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Morning Message #2014-12 March 18, 2014

Choosing to have a new experience of the moment requires that you catch yourself when defaulting to habit. The inherent challenge in this is that habit operates so quietly.

Imagine a train moving slowly on its tracks. Picture it in a train yard where there are lots of other trains and many different tracks. Trains are big and heavy. Your habits run deep and are persistent. They feel so energetically similar to us.

The way you move a train from one track to another is by changing the shape of the track it’s on. Instead of the track running straight ahead you throw the switch and the track curves to the side and the entire train moves in a new direction.

It may take awhile (depending on speed and length of the train) for the entirety of the string of cars to be headed on the new trajectory, yet it will happen.

Let the change in rail shape represent your choosing a new reaction to your experience in this moment. You can see that if you are not consistent in holding this new position, it’s going to be difficult to get your full train (your whole life) to experience the new outlook. If the switch isn’t held steady, it is likely to send very mixed message to the rest of the cars in the train. Also the cars at the end don’t experience the new trajectory as soon as the cars in the front. It takes time for the entire train to get on the new track.

Give yourself time to see how your internal choices affect your external world. Habits can feel so immovable, so impossible to shift. Consistency and patience are key. It also take a choice and patience to redirect a massive train. Yet it happens all the time! Catch yourself defaulting to habit, “throw the switch” by observing yourself consciously, and hold steady while your life adjusts to your new stance.

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