Reinforcing Positive Behavior

 There's something incredibly positive about reinforcing one's positive behaviors. Today, I'm happy to say that unlike yesterday, I properly disciplined myself during the day and adhered to my goals. Yesterday, I had failed to do so, and spent much of my time playing chess, more than I had planned to allow myself to play. That night, I felt bad about not following my goal and regretted my decision.

There's so much temptation that goes into breaking a bad habit.

I'm in the middle of listening a podcast between Russell Brand and Peterson (I started a couple days ago, haven't yet finished). Brand was describing his experience escaping from his adolescent addictions, which, admittedly, seem much more severe than mine currently.  Nonetheless, one of his observations during that time in his life, one that was pivotal to his recovery, was the idea that it was not an impossibility for him to be apart from the temptations he had made the mistake of succumbing to earlier, the temptations that had contributed to making him as miserable as he was then.

When I feel happy at having overcome a challenge, I sometimes overestimate how easy it was to get there, and forget the pain that must be endured to come across such a feeling of bliss. But then I remember that such bliss is fleeting, and that though I might exaggerate the beauty of the journey to happiness to myself, it seems worth relishing while it lasts.