Website owner: James Miller
On the origin of habits
Our habits pretty much define us. They pretty much determine what we are. Some habits lift us up spiritually, intellectually, and morally and make us better people. Others drag us down spiritually, intellectually, and morally and make us worse people.
A habit, once established, can be very difficult to change. Many people become slaves to bad habits. Other people are lifted up and supported morally and spiritually by their good habits.
How do habits get started? What is their origin? The following sources of habit come to mind:
1. Following the crowd, copying others, doing what others do.
People do much just because they see other people doing it. They go to ball games, drink alcohol, take drugs, play golf, go to the beach, watch television, go to the movies because they see others doing it.
2. Desire for social acceptance. Peer pressure. The influence of others.
People do much to gain social acceptance by some group they want to be accepted into. They curse, swear, drink alcohol, use drugs in order to be accepted into some group that does these things.
3. Fleshly impulse. The draw of base appetite; the pursuit of pleasure, especially carnal pleasure.
People engage in fornication and adultery, watch pornography, eat candy, cake, and ice cream due to the carnal draw of such activities.
4. Greed, desire for money.
People deceive, trick, exploit others for money.
5. Reflective thought.
Reflective thought can be a very important source of habits in reflective, thoughtful people. Reflective people may initiate personal rules and ways of doing things that they follow, which become habits. See Origin of habits.
6. Religious teaching.
Commitment to a religion (such as Christianity) and its teachings can be an important source of habits.
See the following:
13 Feb 2022
Jesus Christ and His Teachings
Way of enlightenment, wisdom, and understanding
America, a corrupt, depraved, shameless country
On integrity and the lack of it
The test of a person's Christianity is what he is
Ninety five percent of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness
Liberalism, socialism and the modern welfare state
The desire to harm, a motivation for conduct
On Self-sufficient Country Living, Homesteading
Topically Arranged Proverbs, Precepts, Quotations. Common Sayings. Poor Richard's Almanac.
Theory on the Formation of Character
People are like radio tuners --- they pick out and listen to one wavelength and ignore the rest
Cause of Character Traits --- According to Aristotle
We are what we eat --- living under the discipline of a diet
Avoiding problems and trouble in life
Role of habit in formation of character
Personal attributes of the true Christian
What determines a person's character?
Love of God and love of virtue are closely united
Intellectual disparities among people and the power in good habits
Tools of Satan. Tactics and Tricks used by the Devil.
The Natural Way -- The Unnatural Way
Wisdom, Reason and Virtue are closely related
Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is another
My views on Christianity in America
The most important thing in life is understanding
We are all examples --- for good or for bad
Television --- spiritual poison
The Prime Mover that decides "What We Are"
Where do our outlooks, attitudes and values come from?
Sin is serious business. The punishment for it is real. Hell is real.
Self-imposed discipline and regimentation
Achieving happiness in life --- a matter of the right strategies
Self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline basic to so much in life