Humans 101

Six Tiny, but Harmful, Mental Habits — and How to Fix Them

There are so many ways we accidentally make ourselves feel bad

Do you remember that time something on your bike was broken, so the mudguard rubbed against the tire, creating a consistent and terribly obnoxious grinding noise whenever you pedaled? And then you thought, “Hey, I should fix this.” But then you thought, “Hey, I don’t know how to fix this.” And then you didn’t think about it anymore because you were preoccupied with life. Then you got back on your bike, and not only was it still making the grinding sound, but now it was impossible to shove backward, and the light fell off because the wire had been sanded down. And you were like, “Yeah, this is annoying, but I don’t know how to fix it.” And you just became accustomed to a sound accompanying you everywhere you went, like iiiiiiihh-aaaaaahh… e-iiiiiiihh-aaahahhh… e-iiiiiihhh-aaaahhhh.

And guess what: You got so used to the sound that it became second nature! You didn’t even hear it anymore.

Until one gray, drizzly day in September, a friend’s dad replaced a screw, and suddenly your ride was… so very different.

Smooth. Free. Silent. Everything seemed to be moving automatically. You felt so strong. You were suddenly riding so…