Conditioned Habits

As we grow up we’re conditioned in a way that the habits in place allow for our behavior to be as it is. Simply put, if our conditioned habits were based in love humanity would be much different…

As I look back, I see how many of my habits arose from the conditioning that was just part of what was there growing up. Nothing particularly right or wrong in this, especially because there wasn’t much that could have been done differently. It’s very difficult to act in a loving manner if that’s not what’s in place growing up. Some things are learned naturally, but everything takes some conditioning associated with it. If you’re learning how to golf, at first it’s awkward with no knowledge as to the best way to swing a club, but the more you do it the more habitual it becomes. This way of learning is beneficial when what you’re learning is based in love. But part of the problem is when what becomes habit isn’t based in love because unfortunately it seems natural. This is why it’s so hard to change. I knew what was right (loving) and what was wrong (selfish) growing up, but doing what was loving was not what I was conditioned to do so being selfish became natural to me and there wasn’t anybody who could tell me different because that’s all I knew.

To say the least, this selfish conditioning caused much suffering because with this conditioning in place, there wasn’t any room for much else to be seen. This is the merry go round most people are unknowingly on and it’s a direct result of why humanity is the way that it is. If we all grew up with our conditioning based in loved, humanity would be much different; it’s that simple. I know this because fifteen years ago I began seeing things differently (of love) and lo and behold things began changing. It doesn’t mean it’s always this way, but just as it is with learning to swing a golf club properly, it takes practice. And for me it’s done so the loving behavior becomes as natural as my earlier conditioning to be selfish was…