Interesting truths

Heredity: The passing of physical characteristics like the color of hair or eyes from one generation to the next. Kids in the family also pick up parents habits causing others to feel they and their parents look alike and act alike.

Regardless of heredity, habits or what others thought in your childhood you are not your mother or father. Each child is a combination of both plus ancestors on either side. There are enough variables in the conception process to guarantee you are different.

You will not automatically have the same strengths or weaknesses as your parents and will have your own set of experiences. The choices you make affect your life far more than heredity and you will continue to have the option of new choices.

Subtle: Experienced, intelligent or sensitive enough to make slight, pleasantly understated adjustments. Shocking people with drastic changes can be fun but puzzling to others. We tend to avoid those who we do not understand. It is usually better to ease into the place where you want to be.

Changes to improve life does not have to mean a complete makeover. Even if it turns out that way it will not be done all at once. Adjustments teach us valuable lessons and add up like regular deposits in a savings account. Little changes are easier and the benefits are encouraging. Our lives are a journey with many steps.

Stubborn: Disliking change and determined to resist. Certain that familiar is good, new and different is bad. Unhappy with the direction of modern life and unwilling to follow. Stop the world, I want to get off.

Fear of change with unknown results holds back progress. Your life, your body and the world you live in change constantly and will not stop. Fighting it is frustrating. We can’t hold back the tide but studying how to use it for benefit makes us less afraid.

Practicing subtle change and not stubborn resistance results in a far better life. Starting at an early age we tend to mimic what we like about others and avoid what we do not. Some physical, speech or attitude habits were caused by other kids thinking it was cool or parent and teacher examples. All current habits resulted from some previous belief and decision.

As these regular actions are memorized and practiced they can and often do subconsciously continue long beyond their usefulness. I have habits started sixty years ago in high school because of some event that I do not even remember. None of them are off limits, unchangeable or life threatening. You may have a good laugh thinking about the age and origin of some of your habits.

Subtle changes that are not even noticed can cause others to react positively. Everyone will not become your friend but each person who is a little more accepting or friendly improves life. As each little success happens you get more relaxed and confident.

Troubles will still come and go but as self confidence grows you fear them less. Each time you weather one of those inevitable upsets it gets easier. Learning to remember that this too will pass is a key piece in the happiness puzzle.