THE HABIT OF ONE
The collective self-change promises to be a better Muslim for Ramadaan is no stranger to us. It is so well packaged and wrapped in good intention that we believe its achievement before its action. The potential complete change of character lost in catchphrases of “tomorrow” instead of “now” becomes a staple diet without the necessary nutrition. It essentially requires a habit to effectively engage against the odds of previous routines. A habit that is cognisant action ensconced with agency to resist negative interventions.
Psychology Professors Bas Verplanken and Sheina Orbell (2022) postulate that attitudinally driven behaviour change does not consolidate into lasting habits, especially without “contingent automaticity, namely consistent repetition in a stable, friction-minimizing context”. The Ramadaan attempt of everything produces a psycho-social environment of nothing due to the combined (1) temporal +/- 30-day period, (2) lack of implemented stringent routine, (3) planning, not compensating for the already existing daily structure, and (4) the detriments of previous habits. This unsuccessful behaviour change results in lethargic reactions from suhoor to iftar. At best, it is a spiritual anaesthetic refugee unable to truly bring Ramadaan home.
Furthermore, Mazar et al. (2022), argues that habits are greater reinforced “in concert with goal pursuit.” Accomplishments provide a narrative for reward action and the likely repeat thereof. Thus, goal orientation is only a motivator and not a guarantee for reoccurrence. The increased possibility of repeated successes greatly impacts the grounding of a habit.
The path forward is a habit of one. Islam’s religio-social construct of sincerity (al-ikhlas) in action embeds cognitive moderation that reaches further than intended. For instance, to give charity sincerely requires understanding the recipient(s) and their respective sociological context, gratitude for material and intangible wealth, patience with the process and those involved within it, and most «ÀÌ>ÌÞ > ÕÀÌÕÀ} ÃivÀiyiVÌ°
7 ÃÌ ,>>`>> Ã > `iwÌÛi «>ÌvÀ for opportunity, the onward promises need to Li iµÕ««i` ÜÌ > Vw}ÕÀ>Ì vÀ i >LÌ to sincerely permeate consistent, rewarded ivvÀÌ° / Ã `vwVÕÌÞ Ã V«Õ`i` LÞ `>Þ responsibilities that distract towards old comforts. However, goals are valued because they signify overcoming laborious struggles and obstructions. By merging goals to set behavioural change, the habit of one becomes endlessly more.