Nurturing Monday- Week Two Of Daily Practice

I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time. 

Charles Dickens

In my year pursuit of nurturing, February is the month for nurturing my daily practice. I picked Meditation, Yoga, and Scripture Study, which are going well. Last week I couldn't go to the gym because of a snow event and I did not do yoga at home. Disappointed, but undaunted, I move into the second full week of the month. 

Actually, I have six habits of happiness. Some years ago I settled on these and still to this day I have better days when these are evident in my life.

What does it mean to nurture a habit? This is new to me. I know we are habitual people and even if we don't choose a habit we will by our nature do certain things over and over, again. Hence the phrase "bad habits" gets discussed often. How can I move a habit which I choose into a place of deeper appreciation? 

Meditation is now a habit. It is very rare that I forget. To nurture this habit I listen to a podcast called 10% Happier with Dan Harris, a news anchor on ABC television. Dan interviews people who meditate from all over the world. Monks, athletes, business tycoons, actors, and science nerds, to name a few, join in lively discussions about how, why, where, they meditate. All have one common reason for continuing this habit. They feel like they are better people, kinder and more compassionate. Being a Christian does not put me at odds with meditation. I feel that meditation is a portal to a richer, spiritual life. Lately I find myself using words from scripture to float through my breathing. Since breathing is ever present, the words which I say to myself on the in and out breath become very pronounced. I find them rising in my consciousness at other times during the day. Perhaps scripture is nurturing meditation, making it more valuable. Here is an example of one habit supporting and aiding another. I'm going deeper to find how to nurture.

To go to the overview of My Year of Nurturing click here.