Intentionally to Naturally 從克意到自然

There are important habits to be inculcated in our daily living. However, it requires discipline to build up a good and lasting habit. Initially, we have to intentionally behave in such a desirable way until it becomes our habit. By then we will naturally and habitually behave according to the desirable way.

Taking sleep and get up early as a healthy habit, there are so many people fail to having this habit. It is vital to intentionally do so everyday such as sleep before 11pm and get up at 6am. Initially, it has to be practiced intentionally. After some time or a few months later, this becomes a natural practice or habit. And we will sleep and wake up according to the habitual time.

As for a habit that applies to a community, it becomes a culture for that group of people. For example, the celebration of Chinese New Year is a culture of the Chinese community at large. Every year, there is festival mood for the Chinese as the Chinese New Year approaching. They unconsciously get themselves and families ready for the celebration. Therefore, the leaders of our society need to have the awareness to intentionally enable their people to inculcate healthy habits such as eating healthily and be punctual and caring for the needy etc. Although it may be challenging at the beginning, given enough time with conscious effort, the people are enabled to inculcate the healthy habits and even to the extent of building up such culture of healthy lifestyle.

我们需要在日常生活培養良好的习惯。然而要建立良好和持久的习惯，必须要有纪律。最初，我们必须克意地以理想的方式作事，直到这种方式变成了我们的习惯。到那时侯，我们将会自然地或习惯性地按照理想的方式行事。

早睡早起是一种健康的生活习惯，但是有很多人却没有这种习惯。如果要有这习惯，每天克意这样做乃是很重要的，例如晚上十一点之前睡觉及早上六点起床。最初，我们要故意如此做；经过一段时间或几个月后，这便可能成为了一种自然的方式或习惯，结果我们会根据这习惯作息。

至于克意及持续培养一个群体的习惯，它则会成为这个群的文化。例如，中国农历新年的庆祝活动几乎是所有华人群体的文化。随着农历新年的到来，每年都会感受到此华人节日的气氛。这些华人会很自然地和家人为这节庆准备。所以，我们社会的领袖有必要需要克意地促使人们养成健康的饮食习惯、守时和照顾有需要的人等健康习惯。虽然如此作在开始的时候会面对挑战，但是过了一段时间克意地灌输健康的生活习惯，便可能促成了许多人拥有健康的生活方式。