I have always found the quote below a very powerful reminder to continue with my growth and change! My deep driving desire is I believe my essence and the more I connect to it-it drives my will and then my deed (not always easy I might add). I was at a Habit workshop by KiKi-K and in their wonderful habits book I found a Chinese Proverb quote which is listed below. This refers to our habits becoming our character and our character becoming our destiny.
I reasoned from this proverb that I need to ensure I work at creating positive habits instead of allowing old negative habits becoming my 'character'. I believe these old habits as they entrench themselves can become a part of our character which then can have a massive impact on our self-esteem. Perhaps they then become locked in the brains DMN (Default Mode Network) and we default to them - and the old character "wins". Which can deeply affect our well-being.
By continually focusing on what my deep driving desire is (Upanishad quote)- that I found can reboot the old character's hold and rewire the old character habits with new habits and actions. It is though a work in progress and does not happen over night. The research suggests 66 days - my experience we need to be vigilant as rewiring of our brains can take longer. The reason for this is the old subconscious patterning loves to hold onto the familiar. Keep at your change.
"You are what your deep, driving desire is.
As your desire is, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny"
(Source: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad IV.4.5)
Be care of your thoughts,
For your thoughts
Become your words.
Be careful of your words,
For your words
Become your actions.
Be careful of your actions,
For your actions
Become your habits.
Be careful of your habits,
For your habits
Become your character.
Be careful of your character,
For your character
Becomes your destiny. (Chinese Proverb)