THE XXX LIFE

By Jason Hawke

Monthly Column Exclusively at JasonCurious.com

Column #11: “A Break With Routine”

I read an article years ago about happiness equaling routine. From what I remember the general idea of the article was that people can attain true happiness only through routine. But since people are inherently hardwired to break routine they would never achieve true happiness.

But if routine is really happiness then why make any change at all?

I have tried to find the article again searching online but I haven't seen anything similar yet so I wonder if my memory has confused the original meaning.

It's not always easy to change a behavior pattern whether it be how you react emotionally or physically to daily circumstances. I have made a few personal changes in my life recently, some large and some small and so far they have made me really happy. One of my smaller changes is that I have started getting up MUCH earlier then I have in recent years. I had never given much thought to my routine and I pretty much went to bed and woke up whenever I felt like it since my work schedule is so flexible. It was really hard to change the pattern at first but now I honestly like it. I have been going to bed at about 11pm but it is getting up 4 hours earlier that has really changed the world for me. I have been noticing that there is a whole different world at the earlier hours. Also I never knew the gym got so crowded at 9am! I fell like I am accomplishing more with my time even though am awake for the same amount of hours and it feels really good.

It is not always easy to make that change though even when you know you should. How many of us have stayed in situations or relationships when we knew they were no longer beneficial? But endings can be as hard as new beginnings and I think sometimes it is the very state of routine that can sabotage true happiness.

One of my biggest changes or breaks with routine was moving from my hometown. I am not sure when I first began to dream about the US but if you ask any of my family it was something I always talked about. I had endless crappy jobs for years working to save up enough money to move. I would wallpapper my various work areas with the photos of Venice Beach and palm trees and skylines and think about how different my life would be. The thought of such a radical change made me excited but I was still afraid of the unknown. I wasn't sure exactly what I would do when I got there but I knew it was something I needed to do. I have never been disappointed with that decision. Sometimes the anticipation is worse then the moment itself but the only way to overcome it is to just do it.

Change is stimulation. It makes you see and react to life differently. I want to continue to break my routines and see what new possibilites open up for me. What can you do in your life today to positively change your tomorrow?

How is that for your 4/20 thought of the day?

Peace,

Jason

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