Source: thehappyself.com
Most of us engage in behaviors that we are ashamed that we do, and that we know we should not do, but still we engage in them, because of the people that we spend our time with. There might be different reasons for this weird attachment of us with these old behaviors, but it is also possible for us to break the chain and remove this burden. We can simply stop doing them, without having to overthink and paralyze ourselves.
Possible damages that the perception that we have about ourselves can get damaged, and also the identity that the others have already formed about us. However, we should not lock ourselves in a nutshell of trying to please everyone simply by staying the same as always, without giving any thought about our unproductive behaviors.
– There are a lot of examples of these types of unproductive behaviors:
– Replying to each email in the moment that it arrives.
– Watching a TV show or a football match, simply because everybody around you is talking about it.
– Staying out late, because all of your coworkers do that, although you are very productive in the morning.
– Smoking, because your friends and colleagues are smoking each time you are staying with them.
These and other similar unproductive behaviors that we have been doing just for the sake of others do not have to continue any more. We do not have the power to control the events of the outside world and the situations of other people, however, we have the opportunity and the power to control our response to them. If we simply stick to these types of behaviors, it is most definitely that at some later point in life we will regret about starting them.
Inbox can be a tool that can simply dictate your agenda based on other people’s plans. Although there are certain jobs where you need to check email first thing in the morning, it would be better to have a few email addresses, so that you check only those email addresses when it is really important. Not replying at each instance of time is not rude. Moreover, it sends a passive message that you are not available the whole time.
Not watching a TV show, or not smoking might not be so tragic such that the world would turn upside down. It is much better to abandon the behaviors that are harmful for your goals and your overall lifestyle. If your social circle of friends that you engage with do not appreciate you as you are, then it might be the time to think making new friends.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn
