CHANGING OUR BAD HABITS

Dear young people, this week I would want to share a thought with you about habits. We all have bad habits and there is always the possibility of falling back into those bad habits. It is something we all experience at least with respect to eating or the best use of time.
One lesson probably is that it is not enough to break a bad habit; we need also to replace it with some good habit. Otherwise, the vacuum, the void or the gap invites some new evil or the return of small old bad habits. An effective change of life or repentance includes turning to something better or making some good plans, or resolutions. Time spent on sleazy reading or TV viewing needs to be replaced with time spent on more positive interests and activities.
A habit of badmouthing others or being excessively critical or mean, needs to be replaced by a habit of looking for the positive and good in others and speaking of it. Each of us can think of what needs to replace the old bad and deficient in our life and what new habit or practice needs to be taken up.
None of this is a matter of technique, but needs to be rooted in prayer and reflection leading to self-knowledge. Our falling back into old bad habits teaches us that change is never simply a matter of strong determination on our part, but change is primarily a matter of being open to God's love, grace and action in us. I wish you all every best during this week. Keep well and let me hear from you. God bless you!