What The Wall Clock Taught Me

As I looked up at the clock, I smiled to myself knowingly. A simple clock, a valuable story or rather the lesson it taught me recently. It hangs up at one corner of the house and I barely pay any special attention to it. It serves its function, especially in the morning when I'm getting ready to teach.

Recently it went to the new Shala while we were waiting for the new clock to come. I didn't think too much about it until I found myself unconsciously looking up at the corner for time. Not once but multiple times through the day, even though I had told myself mentally that the clock is now at the Shala.

I began to wonder to myself this must be how conditioning works. How a simple act of daily ingrained habit, without our conscious effort, can have such an impact on our brain (behaviour) in the long run. Even we (yes, my partner too) knowingly are awared that the clock isn't there (already).

How many unconscious habits do we have in our lives that we have unknowingly created that have become part of us? The most common ones like brushing our teeth (even with our eyes half opened) and going to the toilet upon waking up. The food (choices) we eat, the tea break we (must) have at 4pm and the mental stories we tell ourselves about who are we or should be.

Perhaps this is what the experts have been repeatedly telling us - we are our habits. Therefore, to change our lives, we must change our habits.

p/s : the clock is back and I am appreciating it more than ever for its insightful lesson.