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Changing or Eliminating a Habit of the Physical Consciousness · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  The physical consciousness is very much driven by habit,
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  routine, and fixed response patterns.
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  We can observe this in our eating routines, our sleep
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  routines, and other habitual actions.
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  The mind and the vital can influence the physical
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  consciousness through programming routines or habits
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  into it, Essentially training the physical to respond to
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  specific stimuli and act in a certain manner when presented
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  with the situation. All forms of physical exercise
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  and repetitive activity are building new habits into the
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  physical consciousness. When we undertake a diet or
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  begin fasting or take up bodybuilding or swimming or any
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  other activity that requires physical training, we are
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  working to break establish patterns of caloric intake or
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  timing of meals, or find ways to upgrade the responsiveness of
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  the physical being to achieve what it is being called upon to
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  do, etcetera. Once we understand both the
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  nature and the physical consciousness with respect to
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  its habitual patterned action and the manner in which the mind
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  and vital can train or retrain the physical nature to acquire
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  new habits, we can actually initiate various changes in the
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  physical consciousness. If we look at any form of
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  training, we understand that it takes precise instruction from
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  the mind, repetition of the action, and time for the body to
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  form a new habit of response. Similarly, if we look at
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  breaking or changing an existing habit, such as set mealtimes,
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  snacking routines, or any other physical habit, we see that this
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  also takes consistency and time to bear fruit.
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  Recognizing this process, we have both a negative and a
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  positive method to put into practice.
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  To the extent that the mind or the vital nature approves and
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  supports the habit, it will continue and actually be
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  reinforced. Even if we give into it time
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  after time, it should not be with consent, but with a patient
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  and quiet will to reduce or eliminate the unwanted response
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  or habit. For example, one has a craving
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  for some snack, say a piece of chocolate, 1 feels the urge to
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  get a piece of chocolate. The mind observing this impulse
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  can turn down the request, or at least can send forth a directive
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  to the physical that it really does not want to support this
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  request. If the urge is strong and
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  repetitive, it may overpower the mental will for a time, but
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  eventually the mental will can prevail and change the habit.
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  Many people who formerly consumed meat diets have
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  switched to vegetarian or vegan diets.
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  In this way, Even if they gave in to an impulse or craving at
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  some point along the way, the direction and force was set and
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  eventually they succeeded. On the positive side, the mind
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  and vital can send affirmative statements to the physical
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  being, encouraging it to do positive things that support the
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  aspiration, improve the health and well-being of the body, and
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  make it more capable of achieving the intended result.
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  In such case, it is important for the mind and vital to
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  recognize the process and the time and not injure the body
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  through taking it far beyond its current limits, rather using the
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  process of repetition over time to inculcate a new set of
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  responses and habits. Trioro Bindo writes quote.
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  You should not allow yourself to be discouraged by any
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  persistence of the movements of the lower vital nature.
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  There are some that tend always to persist and return until the
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  whole physical nature is changed by the transformation of the
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  most material consciousness. Till then their pressure recurs,
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  sometimes with a revival of their force, sometimes more
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  dully, as a mechanical habit take from them all life force by
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  refusing any mental or vital ascent.
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  Then the mechanical habit will become powerless to influence
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  the thoughts and acts and will finally cease and Quote
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  reference Sri Aurobindo, Faces of Yoga chapter 5 Physical
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  consciousness, subconscious sleep and dream illness page 86.