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Programming and Reprogramming of the Being Through Application of Will · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  Everything we do represents an action of will.
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  Even inaction winds up being a willed action.
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  We are provided a choice at each moment as to how to respond to
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  circumstances, pressures, events, opportunities that lie
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  before us. In many cases, however, we do
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  not recognize the power of choice, as we feel compelled to
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  respond in a particular way through instinct, habit or
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  conditioned trained behaviour. If we observe closely the
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  process of developing a habit and the influence of habits on
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  our behaviour, we see that it starts with an observation, a
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  connection that creates either an attraction or a repulsion in
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  our vital being. As we choose our response, we
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  create a neural pathway, a groove if you will, that makes
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  it easier for the same response to arise in connection with a
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  similar circumstance in the future.
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  The more we actively choose, or at least passively permit this
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  response, it develops into a more or less fixed action, and
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  we have then a habitual pattern that begins to condition our
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  action in the world. The more ingrained that set
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  pattern is, the more effort of will is required to change it.
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  Therefore, it is best to make positive choices at the
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  beginning of the process, when the response is yet in its seed
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  form, and before it becomes a fully grown habit.
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  Just as a habit is created, it can be dissolved.
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  We have programmed the habit into our being so that the mind
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  accepts it, the vital nature is drawn to it, and the body
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  expects it. The detailed operation of
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  neurotransmitters, hormone release, and physical
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  experiences of craving are the manner in which habits become
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  embedded in the being. Yet all of these things can be
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  changed through operation of will.
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  The exertion of willpower is something that can be trained
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  and systematically developed over time through repeated
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  effort. While it may not fully succeed
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  in immediately overcoming a deeply ingrained pattern, over
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  time it succeeds in modifying the behaviour.
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  Certain habits go on to become physical addictions.
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  This can be an addiction to intoxicating beverages, drugs,
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  or even the stimulation and gratification that can come to
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  the vital being from exciting actions or from sexual activity,
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  or from dominating behaviour such as bullying, or from
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  excessive interaction with immersive video games or
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  television programming. Whatever the form or source of
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  the addiction, we are observing embedded deep grooves in the
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  being that utilize neurotransmitters and hormone
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  release as a mechanism to create deep physical reactions of need,
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  and any attempt to change these addictions creates withdrawal
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  symptoms. In this case the issue is the
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  same once the addiction is in place, which started with an
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  approval of the action the first time.
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  It needs an effort of will combined with implementation of
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  methodologies to systematically break down the addiction and
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  move the body, life, mind to a new pathway forward.
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  A simple example, we have a habit of taking a refreshment, a
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  snack in the mid morning or mid afternoon between meals.
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  We may start doing this as an exception, perhaps in a period
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  of high exertion and the body requesting an energy boost.
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  If we repeat this daily, it becomes a habit whether or not
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  the body needs it. If we try to change this habit,
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  we then can observe that there is a subtle pull or what we may
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  call a physical craving that tells us that it is snack time.
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  In some cases, we give in to the craving and go and obtain the
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  expected refreshment. In other cases, however, we can
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  use our will to reprogram this trained habit through
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  substitution of a different action, such as an exercise
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  program or a focus on some subject of intense interest, or
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  through a type of conditioning, either through the use of reward
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  or punishment, or through a type of education of the body.
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  Life Mind complex to recognize that this snack is not required
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  and is actually not helpful as it will tend to increase weight
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  and decrease our health over time.
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  Another method is to provide the refreshment but reduce the
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  quantity or change the constituent foods such that the
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  body's expectation is reduced and eventually can be
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  eliminated. One way or another, with
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  perseverance and patient exercise of the active will, the
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  change can occur. Another example was related by
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  an individual about his experience in monitoring and
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  controlling the impulse of speech.
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  He undertook a practice for a period of time to not speak
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  socially. He had a pad and pen and wrote
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  responses to all social inquiries during that time.
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  However, he determined to speak if speech was necessary in
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  relation to the specific work he was given to undertake.
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  This practice forced him to observe how the impulse to
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  speech arose within him and forced him to make variable
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  choices depending on the circumstance under which speech
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  either would or would not be required.
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  He reported learning a great deal about the rising of
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  impulses within the being generally and the use of
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  willpower to guide and direct which impulses would be
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  fulfilled and which would be denied.
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  The mother observes quote. There is always a moment when
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  everyone has self-control, and if one had not said yes once, if
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  one had not taken the decision, one would not have done it.
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  There is not one human being who is not the energy and capacity
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  to resist something imposed upon him if he is left free to do so.
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  People tell you I can't do otherwise.
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  It is because in the depths of their heart they do not want to
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  do otherwise. They have accepted to be the
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  slaves of their vice. There is a moment when one
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  accepts it. End Quote Reference Sri Orobindo
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  and the Mother Powers within Chapter 11.
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  Power of Control, page 96.