Wherever You Go, There You Are
I have previously blogged about the difference between morals and ethics. In this blog, I distinguished between how each achieves its purpose of guiding right behavior. While morals are concerned with principles of right and wrong in general, ethics are related to right and wrong conduct of an individual in a particular situation. Whereas morals are customs established by a group of individuals, ethics defines the character of the individual. While morals represent what a person, group, or society believes people should do, ethics are guiding principles that help the individual or group decide what is good or bad. Morals are expressed in the form of general rules and statements. Ethics are abstract. They need context to decide what is right or wrong.
In this blog, I discuss the journey one takes to achieve rightful behavior and the obstacles that make it more challenging to do. To start, we should remember that what we do matters. We can make changes in our own behavior and contribute to the betterment of society. It’s not easy. The destination has to justify the struggle to improve humankind.
Returning to a Moment of Time Once it Has Passed
One can never return to a moment of time once it has passed. Each passing moment represents a lost opportunity that can never be replaced. Don’t relive past problems. Don’t carry baggage. What’s done is done. This means if you have made a decision or chosen an action that you regret later on, don’t obsess about it. Move on and commit to changing your behavior. It can be done.
Sometimes we think that life is circular. We choose a goal; move towards it; a decision is made; and then we repeat the process again. Instead, think of life as linear. You choose a purpose; direct your behavior towards achieving it; and then, with laser focus, concentrate intensely on the specific task or goal you have chosen. The future is not locked into actions of the past. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all teach that individuals can change their behavior over time to achieve moral decisions and actions. We can advance ethically.
Changing Behavior
Most people want to improve; become a better person. This is why so many self-help books are sold. Many of us promise to do better but fall back into the same pattern over time. It is a circular pattern of behavior that frustrates us over time. Why is it so difficult to change a pattern of behavior? It’s because we have made such behavior a habit and habits are hard to change.
I searched for a way to characterize the struggle to change behavior and lo and behold found it in AI. Ancient Greeks emphasized the importance of habits in shaping character and behavior. They believed that habits are crucial for developing virtues and achieving moral excellence. Aristotle, in particular, argued that virtues are essentially habits formed through practice, suggesting that a good life is achieved by cultivating positive routines. The role of habits in ethics then could be characterized as follows.
- Aristotle posited that ethical virtues, such as courage and temperance, are complex skills developed through habitual practice.
- The formation of good habits is seen as essential for living a fulfilling life.
- Ancient Greek philosophers also linked habits to health, advocating for balanced diets and mindful routines as pathways to longevity.
- They believed that maintaining a harmonious lifestyle contributes to both physical and moral well-being.
The Role of Mindfulness
Some people believe that meditation, particularly mindfulness-based practices, contributes to habit change through mechanisms grounded in behavioral science. I have found in my own experience that this can be true. It sounds simple but is not. We become creatures of habit and even dedicating ourselves to about one hour per day is difficult, but necessary, to change behavior. We need to figure out how to make the change. It sounds easy but many mindfulness-based interventions, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), typically suggest practicing for about 40 to 45 minutes daily, and even suggest that less time might work as well. Each of us should decide how and when to carry out mindfulness. For me, the best way to do it is the first thing in the morning. I can wake up earlier than usual and practice mindfulness.
Kabat-Zinn argues in “Wherever You Go, There You Are,” that many of us exist in a constant state of distraction, either preoccupied with the past or worried about the future. Mindfulness, he explains, is a tool that will allow you to stay fully present and recognize the extraordinary gift of each moment.
How Our Morals Might Get in the Way of Behavior Change
Writing for Psychology Today, Ariella Kristal makes the following points in, “How Our Morals Might Get in the Way of Behavior Change”
- People resist behavior tools that clash with beliefs about willpower and personal responsibility.
- We value internal willpower over external strategies — even when the latter are more effective.
- Designing effective interventions requires understanding the values people feel are being violated.
In 1936, the psychologist Kurt Lewin proposed a deceptively simple idea: Behavior is a function of the person and their environment.
Conclusion
“Where no man has gone before ” is a phrase made popular through its use in the title sequence of the original 1966–1969 Star Trek. We could say the same about changing behavior.
Blog posted by Steven Mintz, PhD, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, on June 2, 2026. Visit Steve’s website to find out more about his activities.