These are excerpts from the author’s book “Deep,” which contains eight of his small books published in the form of Wisdom Literature covering different aspects of life: Facing troublemakers, dealing with pain, personal financial issues, gastronomy, reading, criticizing, inspiring, and feeling always good to go.

Series 8: Life Painkillers

This week: Routine

Symptoms: You want it so badly, yet you fear it at the same level.

Diagnosis: You are hesitant to take on a new challenge that will add a lot to your life, fearing its great impact on your usual daily routine.

Painkiller:

• There is no need to hesitate. Every work at its beginning seems confusing and difficult, and then becomes easier the more you get used to it. You will rearrange your life to include a new routine and will become familiar with as well.

• Remember that it is not a one-way road. You can return at any moment, but it is wise not to hasten making a decision to return at the first difficulty you encounter. Give yourself some time, and it will automatically become clear to you which decision is best.

• Even if you were not feeling bored, it is wise to renew and refresh your routine. See the new challenge as an opportunity to inject new life into your everyday details.

• Remember that your current routine will somehow end. It is better if you take the initiative to change it because even if you do not like the experience completely, you will at least get rid of the phobia of stillness and become used to some change.

• Not an exaggeration, but you may actually feel satisfied and happy with the new routine to the extent that you bemoan your delay in taking the change step.

Treatment:

• It is important not to go overboard in any habit or routine. Enjoy your sweet habits and routines but not to the point of becoming addicted to them in any way.

• It is good to have your backup plan for any habit or routine ready so that you are not surprised by the emptiness when you can no longer practice a habit or routine you have stuck to for a long time.

• It is always better to create your own habits and routines. Surrendering to the status quo—no matter how pleasant—makes your habits and routines in the possession of others, given the developments in life that require everyone to deal with changes. Others are changing, and their actions will impact you if you are not, in turn, taking some initiatives.

• Do not be ashamed of your seemingly embarrassing habits and routines as long as you have done your best toward treating them, and as long as they do not negatively affect others and do not clearly hinder your life. Just be aware that you do not need to show your privacy to others to the point of provoking them to comment on what does not concern them, which may lead to distress and annoy you.

To read more about the author, click here

Dahab’s books are available on Goodreads and Booktasters are promoting them. This is the link to a trailer on “Damn the Novel,” his first book translated into English.