Man is Slave of Habits

The great Shakespeare has a deep insight in and understanding of human nature. Habit is second nature. Once a person is used or accustomed to do a thing again and again, it becomes a habit or stamped in nature. The more we do a thing, the more we tend to like doing it and, if we do not continue doing it, we feel uneasy or unhappy. This is called 'force of habit, the dictionary meaning of the word habit is: an ordinary course of behavior, tendency to perform certain action, custom, or accustomedness.

From the above analysis it is quite evident that once a habit is formed, it is rather difficult to give it up or to conquer it. It is a rut or a difficult course to depart from. It is very interesting to give an explanation of the word habit. It we take out 'h', 'abit' remains. Again if we remove the letter 'a', 'bit' remains. If we take out 'b' from 'bit''it' remains. It means that once a habit is formed, howsoever one tries to give it up, in the last resort it (or the habit) remains. All attempts to root out have generally proved futile because it requires great will power or force of character.

Man is bundle of habits. There are habits not only of swearing, lying, drinking and some other things which are commonly acknowledged to be habits and called so, but of every modification of action, speech and thought. There is not a quality or function of either body or mind which does not feel the influence of this great law of animated nature.

It is easy to acquire habits particularly bad ones. Most of the habits are generally formed unconsciously. Childhood is the most formative period of life. Fond parents generally pamper the children. Blandishment or over-indulgence by parents spoil the young ones. It is a very common practice nowadays. Instead of correcting the children or channelising their energy in the right direction, they connive with their actions. The results are seen in the behavior patterns of the new generation. The teachers of the schools, as we see, are helpless because they are afraid of incurring the wrath of influential parents. Ultimately they pose great discipline problems at the higher grown ups levels.

Habits once formed are difficult to change. So it should be kept in mind that good habits should be formed. A good company of friends will result in good habits. Parents should always keep a check on the children because childhood is the most habit forming age.