“If you are defeated once and tell yourself you will overcome, but carry on as before, know in the end you'll be so ill and weakened that eventually you won't even notice your mistake and will begin to rationalize your behavior.”
- Epictetus, Discourses, 2.18.31
June 22, 2021 7:00 AM
Habits and failures. Failure has a negative connotation to most, but failure can be useful. We can use our failures as lessons and motivations to improve ourselves.
Recognizing our failures without adjusting our habits could be another definition of insanity. For instance, we know we tend to gorge, but we continue to dine at the "all-you-can-eat buffet". Knowing you will get angry sitting in traffic, yet you never alter your departure time or route.
Conclusion
Break the pattern. Find alternative routes. The smallest of extra efforts can produce profound effects in the long run.