When Good Habits Aren’t Enough: Why You Need a Brain, Too
Chandra Eden, The True Me Yogi
Sayings of Paramahansa Yogananda
Author: Self-Realization Fellowship
"A student had made a serious error. She lamented, 'I have always cultivated good habits. It seems incredible that this misfortune should have happened to me.'
'Your mistake was to rely too heavily on good habits and to neglect constant exercise of right judgment,' the master said. 'Your good habits help you in ordinary and familiar situations but may not suffice to guide you when a new problem arises. Then discrimination is necessary. By deeper meditation you will learn how to choose the right course in everything, even when confronted by extraordinary circumstances.' He added:
'Man is not an automaton, and therefore cannot always live wisely by simply following set rules and rigid moral precepts. In the great variety of daily problems and events, we find scope for the development of good judgment.'"
When Good Habits Aren’t Enough: Why You Need a Brain, Too
Good habits are like the unsung heroes of life. They keep you from spiraling into chaos, help you remember to floss, and ensure you don’t eat cake for breakfast every day (unless it’s your birthday, in which case, carry on). But here’s the catch: good habits, as awesome as they are, can only take you so far. When life throws you a curveball—and it will—you’re going to need more than a habit. You’re going to need judgment.
Take the student in this story. She was all about her good habits, probably the poster child for “doing everything right.” But then something went wrong, and she was left wondering how her perfectly curated life plan had failed her. Enter the wise master, who basically said, “Good habits are great, but you can’t just coast through life on autopilot. You’re not a robot, Bob.”
The truth is, habits are fantastic for the everyday, predictable stuff. They’re like the cruise control of life—keeping you steady and efficient. But when something unexpected happens, like a new challenge or a moral gray area, habits alone won’t cut it. That’s when you need to hit the brakes, take the wheel, and use your judgment. And let’s be honest, judgment isn’t something you can outsource to your morning routine.
So how do you sharpen your judgment? The master suggests deeper meditation, which is basically the ancient version of “turn it off and back on again.” Meditation helps you clear the mental clutter, tune into your intuition, and actually think before you act. It’s like giving your brain a chance to stretch and warm up before it has to run a marathon of decision-making.
The big takeaway here? Good habits are like the safety net of life, but judgment is the tightrope walker. You need both to navigate the circus that is existence. So, keep building those habits, but don’t forget to flex your judgment muscles. Life isn’t a script, and you’re not a robot. You’re a human, and that means you’ve got the power to adapt, think, and choose wisely—even when the rules don’t apply.
#thetruemeyogi #HabitsVsJudgment #ThinkBeyondAutopilot #MeditationForTheWin #LifeIsNotOneSizeFitsAll