In a conversation with my spiritual director a couple of weeks ago, I told her that I was struggling with something. I shared that there was a little habit that I wanted to give up. I told her that I didn’t want to do it anymore. She looked at me and said, ‘then don’t!’
Wow, that was direct and that was simple. I wanted to reply that it’s not that easy, and go on and on, but she stopped me in my tracks. We usually have lengthy discussions about those sorts of things but this was different. She basically said that if I wanted to stop something then I should just stop it.
Have I been able to break that habit? Not quite yet, but her words stay with me. It’s not going to be that easy, habits form over time and sometimes it’s quite a process to break the behavior, but I appreciate her words. Maybe we do sometimes over-analyze, over-justify, and over-coddle. Perhaps sometimes we can ‘just stop’.
Reflections on the Journey 
My father, it seemed to me, was able to stop bad habits on a dime. Give up smoking? Done!
Sometimes I can do that, too. But often I have struggled, especially with sinful habits.
I’ll pray for you today.
When a task awaited my mother always used to say, “Just do it!” … I wish I had her self-discipline.
I think that some habits are harder to stop immediately through will power, but maybe we need to redefine our definition of success.
Lately I’m realizing that baby steps are beneficial and meaningful. 🙂
Either way, our potential is greater than we often realize.
I think you are right! Like you, I, too, struggle at times. I do believe that “with God all things are possible,” so I guess my faith is weak sometimes. I’m so thankful that He who made me understands and desires to make me more like Him! That does not take away the need for self-discipline, I realize! The pruning process is usually painful!
great advice. If we spent less time rationalizing (as you said) and more time just ‘stopping” . . . .
As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you.
May you just stop!
Blessings, Andie 🙂 and hugs as well. I have things I want to stop as well, and I will remember your post 🙂