![\"Tea](\"http:\/\/www.jennifermargulis.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/tea-lights-3612508_1280-1024x584.jpg\")
\nI worked with a professor in graduate school who used to tell his students:<\/p>\n
\nI worked with a professor in graduate school who used to tell his students:<\/p>\n
Writing is a habit.<\/p>\n
A habit is something you do without thinking.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
How we self-talk<\/a> is also a habit. Whether we\u00a0go running in the morning or lie in bed surfing Facebook<\/a>, whether we kiss our children hello and goodbye. These are all habits.<\/p>\n
Hurry, too, is a habit<\/a>.<\/p>\n
As is mindfulness.<\/p>\n
Making mindfulness a habit<\/h3>\n
The Buddhists suggest we bring attention and thoughtfulness to even the most mundane habits, like hand washing<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Instead of washing our hands with our minds racing in a hundred directions, we should look at our hands as we wash them, pay attention, and\u00a0imagine using them\u00a0to bring beauty into the world, comfort someone, perform an act of kindness.<\/p>\n
Look at your hands. Appreciate them. Appreciate that you are still in this beautiful, difficult, interesting world. As you wash them thank them, and set your mind to doing something kind with them, or many kind things, throughout the day.<\/p>\n
Good writing is an act of kindness<\/h3>\n
Good writing is an act of kindness.<\/p>\n
It pays attention to suffering.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0creates beauty out of pain<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Telling your story<\/a>, sharing your pain … these are ways to improve the world.<\/p>\n
This post was inspired by Charles Duhigg’s book, The Power of Habit<\/a>, the collected writings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh<\/a>, and the teachings of Emory University English professor, Mark Bauerlein<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
Published: April 22, 2015
\nUpdated: January 14, 2020<\/p>\nRelated posts:<\/strong><\/span>
\nGenerosity for a Vibrant Life<\/a>
\nIf You’re in Pain, You’re Not Alone<\/a>
\nLet Kids Go at Their Own Pace<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I worked with a professor in graduate school who used to tell his students: Writing is a habit. A habit is something you do without thinking. How we self-talk is also a habit. Whether we\u00a0go running in the morning or lie in bed surfing Facebook, whether we kiss our children hello and goodbye. These are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"categories":[8352,104,8162],"tags":[616,617,618,619,620,621,622,623],"yoast_head":"\n
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