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Home  | Flourishing in Life  | Human Growth | Healthy Behaviors

 Healthy Behaviors

BY: T. Franklin Murphy | December 2014 (edited 2018)
Healthy Behaviors
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Working on character and building constructive habits relieves reliance on self-discipline. Will power alone fails to create the change we seek.
When the anxiety of survival overwhelms, developing traits of compassion, courage and connectedness appear unattractive—we are hungry and need shelter. These undeveloped traits linger, failing to grace the futures of those most in need. Neglecting idealistic traits is not necessarily out of ignorance or laziness, but perhaps a practice of necessity. Impoverished and dangerous environments demand different protective actions; when survival skills are neglected, we risk the deadly consequences. Lofty goals of character development follow individual paths. However, denying these skills of human growth and connection has costs. We simply can’t abandon an ethical path and justify our brash behavior on our environment. First, we should seek a safer environment that supports healthy development.
#humangorwth #wellness #flourishinglife 
In main stream society, ethical standards do apply. Failing to acknowledge them, or habitually justifying deviations, seriously impacts our futures. Ethical standards include: empathy, trustworthiness, industriousness, commitment, and gratefulness. Stalwarts of character, such as Benjamin Franklin, devote a lifetime to nurturing and developing their moral fiber, deepening their connection to humanity, and strengthening their will. Their striving never attains perfection. We can’t repair every human failing. We fall short on all ethical fronts; however, each standard can be improved. The expectation that we can force perfection would overwhelm and depress, leaving us depleted; susceptible to destructive impulses and faulty reasoning.
The prudent path requires daily practices. We courageously do our best, addressing the most salient failing first. When carefully practiced, our souls develop, with new behaviors becoming nuanced, comfortable and habitual. We don’t simply change, impulses remain, errors occur; difficult work remains. Without proper resources, our efforts give way to impatience. All paths to lasting change must be accompanied by self-compassion, courage and connectedness. Self-compassion to accept the bumpy path to change, courage to accept imperfection, and connectedness to draw upon external support.
 
Our human frailties default to imperfect attempts at change. We must, as we willingly do for a child learning to walk, accept the stumbling as we learn, courageously continuing. Large changes can't be forced through rigid self-discipline alone. Conscious effort eventually exhausts, and we falter. Our strength must be bolstered with supportive others. Proudly, many wait to summon help. Frightened by the response from others, they wait until complete destruction, when the walls have collapsed, and recovery difficult. The humility to recognize weakness early, and courageously seek help, may prevent the disasters. Early assistance can sure up our defenses and provide thoughtful advice. In humility, we may learn new artful responses to stress.
"Large changes can't be forced through rigid self-discipline alone. Conscious effort eventually exhausts, and we falter."
Developing our character isn’t automatic or seamless; changes work through a complex structure of starts and stops, hopes and despairs, successes and errors.  We must reach a little deeper, beyond the comfort of the past. We must trudge through discouragement, and deal with failure.  It’s the course necessary for improvement. If we wait for an easier tomorrow—more congenial to change—we will drift further from the goal, making adjustments more difficult.
 
Pernicious games discourage persistence—denial, avoidance and blame. Our mind plays dodge ball with the difficulties. But if not now, when?
 
Mindful attempts to incorporate change coddled with courage, self-compassion and connection, invites growth.  Instead of being derailed by denial, avoidance, and blame, our life can transform. Areas previously beyond reach can become realities. As we move forward with healthy practices, anxieties subside, freeing cognitive resources once dedicated to simpler needs to survive to more complex desires to grow. Our habitually engagement in healthy and ethical behaviors invite goodness into our lives and many wonderful things begin to happen.
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FLS link-- Emotional Regulation: Emotions energize and push for action. Healthy regulation capitalizes on the richness of emotion and directs the energy towards life objectives.
Living a virtuous life is never accomplished in perfection; we integrate ethical standards one small step at a time.
Sustainable joy is more than present pleasure. The best lives comes from actions that produce joy over time, not just momentary amusement.
Flourishing is a skill;  a pattern of living that gives to life,  betters futures, and improves societies.  We learn these skills through  mindful attention to action.
Life is lived in the moment; but those moments have impact on the future. Future moments heavily depend on previous moments. Live well now and prepare a future with less stress and more joy.
Picture link: Nine Pillars of well being: We achieve well-being through a balanced approach to life, working with nine key areas of living.

External Links:
External Link: Can you trust yourself to make the right decision?
External Link: The benefits of napping
External Link. Medical News Today. 22 brain exercises to improve memory, cognition, and creativity
External Link:  6 Psychologist-Approved Ways To Use Your Stress To Your Advantage
External Link: 8 Rules to Do Everything Better
FLS Link: The Right to Happiness. We live in a serious world, full of deadlines and commitments. We can step away from the chaos to catch our breath and enjoy a few smiles without guilt.
We protect our lives from the showering of unpleasant experience through our minds and action.
Futures depend on action following thought. We must do more than dream to build better lives.
When we have meaningful purpose, life events take on a different color.
Wellness on the Web
External Link: In a rut? Try these easy ways to boost your health
Link: Why do we sabotage ourselves?
Link: Thirty Excuses stopping you from living best life
Banner link: 13 habits that are sabotaging your day
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Topics: Human Growth, Action
FLS internal Link. Best of FLS wellness research


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