Habit horse

Thich Nhat Hanh's shares:  There is a well-known Zen story about a man on a galloping horse. Someone watching him ride by shouts to him, "Where are you going?" The rider turns and yells, "I don't know, ask the horse". 

He goes on to share that the galloping horse is called "habit energy".  Habit energy pushes us and decides everything for us and we go along with it. This energy may have been passed down from parents or earlier generations, or it could be one you've created on your own as a way to manage or cope. 

It is important for us to become aware of this habit energy and not let it push us around. Thich Nhat Hanh encourages us to engage with this "habit horse" like this:  "Hello there, my habit energy, I know you are there". And begin the connection and conversation from there.

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​What are your runaway habits? Where are you going "along for the ride"?

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With awareness, we can begin to slow and calm our habit energy-- our Habit Horse --and make the changes we wish to see.