Get Rid Of A Bad Habit Analysis

As Dewey notes, you cannot simply get rid of a habit; however, you can replace a bad habit with a good habit. Spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi once wrote that the purpose of human moral life is to “conquer old habits, to overcome the evil in him and to restore good in its rightful place” (553). To identify bad habits, we need to first reflect on our habits and possess self-awareness. One way to achieve this awareness is through meditation which gives one a clear mind and builds a unified will. For Gandhi, prayer is a vehicle through which you can alter your habits. This can take the form of the “secular prayer” of meditation and the renewed commitment to goals. After all, an essential part of prayer is self-examination and overcoming bad habits in oneself. Meditation, in its demand for self-reflection and grounded inner orientation, requires this intention.
In his Confessions, St. Augustine emphasizes the importance of unifying your will. We often have conflicting wills. More often than not, we acknowledge that we should want to want something, and yet do not accomplish what it is we are supposed to want. Stress is the result of conflicting wills. Augustine notes the direct connection between the mental state of mind and external actions.
As mentioned earlier, stress affects not only an individual, but everyone around them. That is why meditating in a community setting is so beneficial. As Augustine once said, "Friendship among men, too, is a delightful bond, uniting many souls in one" (48). In this group setting, everyone has the same goal, which helps them to align their thoughts and achieve a calm state of mind. Another good reason to do meditation in a group setting is for accountability. When meditating individually, one is likely to become distracted. In this group meditation, everyone is dedicated to achieving the same goal. Together, we can have more focused and relaxed