Excellence is a Habit

Aritstotle once said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." We are creatures of habit, aren't we? Habits abound in all of us. I have several: overeating, popping my fingers, biting my nails and even losing my patience sometimes becomes a habit in my life. These things can be anywhere from unpleasant to unhealthy. But there are other habits like reading, exercising, money management, and getting rest that can greatly improve our quality of life.

You see, our lives are all composed of habits from the time we wake up all the way to bedtime. If a habit is negative, something that triggers feelings and impulses, can be broken along the way. But if the habit is positive and needed, we can nurture that cycle by continuing it.

Now, think about certain spiritual matters that may be matters of habit: faithful attendance to Church, daily Bible study and prayer, pure speech, visiting, welcoming visitors at church, involvement in church activities, and any number of personal growth matters. Aristotle was right. Excellence does not consist in doing something once. It is not even found in the sporadic, occasional engagement. We cultivate excellence by focusing on certain areas with repeated, persistent effort.

So, I like Paul, urge you like I Thessalonians 4:1 says, "abound more and more." Abound more and more in the good habits that bring Christ glory and "good health" to your soul.

You see, excellence is not something we are born with or just wake up possessing. It is, as Aristotle says, a matter of our habits!

Thanks for your good habits,
-Gregg


ONE MORE THING: I heard about a survey in American Sociological Review that revealed one out of every four Americans had no close friends, and there was a 33 percent decline in the number of friendships over the past two decades. On average, Americans had only two people they would call close friends. Is that sad or what? I'm so thankful I can call all of YOU close friends. And in case I haven't told you lately....I love you!