Old Dogs Learn New Tricks
By Jane Malkoff MSN RN NP
Don’t take offense. I love dogs, of all ages. Frankly, I was perplexed years ago the first time I heard, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. I couldn’t believe it! I still don’t. This idea did not match the dogs I knew or the people I saw around me. My experience was old dogs could indeed learn new tricks.
There would have to be something very hopeless in the human condition if we were to take this adage lying down. Today I remain hope filled with the notion people who have long been used to doing things a particular way will indeed roll over when compelled to do so and abandon their old habits for new and better ones.
There are, of course, reasons people give as to why they hold the “old dog” adage as their truth. A common reason is it is too difficult to change after doing something the same way for years or after carrying on with a certain belief after years of enculturation. This line of thinking certainly would keep one’s obligation to make a change at bay.
A new theory emerging reasons the path to success and thriving is not through strict discipline day in and day out. So, discipline is a myth? Yes, to a certain extent our ideas about discipline may not give us the expected results but may actually create a plethora of dogs without a single new trick. Apparently, achieving success in one’s goals is mostly about sprinting down a particular path powered by discipline only just long enough for a new habit to kick in and take control. Not only that but once the new habit is in place there will be other paths to conquer.
If you are in a difficult situation, remember, you have a few tricks left up your sleeve. We see this sort of success at Clarity day in and day out.
If this is not convincing, think of it this way; Sprinting down a new path can create a new habit which creates new successes allowing for more time for walks, naps and treats.