Hi, thought i’d write a little today on the subject of habits.

There’s no question that we, at least most of us, are creatures of habit.  I was just thinking about how programmed we are to think and behave in ways that are pretty self-limiting.  A good example might be when we shop, we usually select the same  items according to habits, maybe of long standing.  We may or may not love the product, but we still buy it, either because our mom does, our friends do, or because the product has been marketed really well that it has become attractive to us.

Admittedly, we are more health conscious and consumer aware than our parents were.   Thank Goodness because we need to educate ourselves on the hazards of and the hype surrounding the myriad chemicals used in most products, whether food or cosmetic.  It’s great to realize that there is a groundswell of consumer activism and none too soon, as Mother Earth is really tired of absorbing so many toxins and so are our bodies!

Although it challenges us to change our ways and habits, it’s really not that difficult.  We know that it takes just 21 days to create a new habit; of course, the longer we practice a new and healthier way of living, the deeper it registers in our psyche.  I have been changing some old habits (i won’t give them away, but will say they are none too healthy), and the benefits are felt quickly, which really helps with staying the course.

Shopping habits are no exception!  When we consciously decide to do anything differently, new neural pathways are formed in the brain and the new habit takes hold.  It took me ages to realize this!  What if we each decided to eliminate one unhealthy habit, such as buying a chemical cleaning product or a body care product that contains parabens, or choosing less processed and less packaged foods?  No doubt we would all be a little healthier and happier and our earth would also be. 

Also, because we are programmed to see ourselves as separate from others, we may not appreciate the impact our thoughts and actions have on others and the earth.  Our choices do affect others and the planet.  

In return for giving up one item of convenience, be it food or otherwise, we receive benefits that can’t be measured, yet are clearly real.  A small and deliberate shift in consciousness, such as using a chemical-free product or at least a cleaner one, yields huge collective rewards, as far less toxic waste is dumped into the environment.  We can collectively create a win-win situation.

The other aspect of ‘going green’ is cost.   Many people automatically assume that the cost of doing so is prohibitive, but, when you look a little closer at cost/benefit, you can see that most healthy products are not much more expensive than their chemical counterparts.  In fact, some are actually less expensive.  As well, cleaner products are often much more concentrated and don’t contain all kinds of fillers, so that you don’t need as much and the product may last a lot longer.  Besides, a 10% higher cost, which is not uncommon, is well worth it when you consider and weigh out the many benefits of going green.

If you’re like me, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded that we are creatures of habit and that a little shake up and change is a good thing.  Enough harping about habits!

Thanks for reading.  Our website is www.beaulance.com.