【每日斯多葛】10月19日

October 19th 

GOOD HABITS DRIVE OUT BAD HABITS

“Since habit is such a powerful influence, and we’re used to pursuing our impulses to gain and avoid outside our own choice, we should set a contrary habit against that, and where appearances are really slippery, use the counterforce of our training.”

—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.12.6

When a dog is barking loudly because someone is at the door, the worst thing you can do is yell. To the dog, it’s like you’re barking too! When a dog is running away, it’s not helpful to chase it—again, now it’s like you’re both running. A better option in both scenarios is to give the dog something else to do. Tell it to sit. Tell it to go to its bed or kennel. Run in the other direction. Break the pattern, interrupt the negative impulse.

The same goes for us. When a bad habit reveals itself, counteract it with a commitment to a contrary virtue. For instance, let’s say you find yourself procrastinating today—don’t dig in and fight it. Get up and take a walk to clear your head and reset instead. If you find yourself saying something negative or nasty, don’t kick yourself. Add something positive and nice to qualify the remark.

Oppose established habits, and use the counterforce of training to get traction and make progress. If you find yourself cutting corners during a workout or on a project, say to yourself: “OK, now I am going to go even further or do even better.”

Good habits have the power to drive out bad habits. And habits are easy to pick up—as we all know.

10月19日 

用好习惯驱逐坏习惯

“既然习惯具有如此强大的影响力，而我们又习惯于听从自己的冲动，去追求或回避那些不属于我们选择范围之内的外部事物，那么我们就应该建立一种与之相反的习惯来加以对抗。当外在表象特别容易使我们误入歧途时，就要运用训练所形成的反向力量。”

——爱比克泰德，《论说集》，3.12.6

当有人来到门口，狗开始大声吠叫时，你最不应该做的就是冲它大喊大叫。因为在狗看来，你也在跟着一起叫！当狗正在跑开时，追赶它也没有帮助——因为现在在它看来，你们两个都在奔跑。面对这两种情况，更好的办法都是让狗去做另外一件事。让它坐下，让它回到自己的窝里，或者你自己朝相反的方向跑。打破原有模式，中断负面的冲动。

对我们来说也是一样。当一种坏习惯显露出来时，要通过有意识地实践与之相反的美德来加以抵消。例如，假设你发现自己今天正在拖延——不要陷进去，和拖延情绪硬碰硬。相反，站起来走一走，清醒一下头脑，重新调整状态。如果你发现自己说了某些消极或刻薄的话，不要因此责备自己，而是补充一些积极、友善的话语，让原来的说法更加妥当。

要对抗已经形成的习惯，利用训练所带来的反向力量，找到着力点并取得进步。如果你发现自己在锻炼或完成项目时偷工减料，就对自己说：“好吧，现在我要做得更多，或者做得更好。”

好习惯有能力驱逐坏习惯。而且，正如我们都知道的那样，习惯是很容易养成的。