Whether it's not reaching for a sugary snack or making sure we keep a curved thumb in our bow hold, we all have habits we'd like to edit or replace with other habits. The question then becomes: "How do we replace old habits and create new habits most effectively?"

In the Alexander Technique, one of the main components to creating new habits is the intentional act of inhibition. To inhibit is to stop and take a moment before the habit is allowed to be carried out. Inhibition is like freezing time during the moment where a decision is being made, giving ourselves time to think through all the possible outcomes, and then choosing the best possible solution based on what we know. Sometimes, this can take a few moments, like when opening the fridge and reviewing your snack options, and sometimes, this can take longer, like when we need a day to think about committing to something more important.

Famed Juilliard violin teacher, Dorothy DeLay, was fond of saying, "All mistakes exist between just two notes." What she meant is that the real reason mistakes happen is in the events leading up to them, not when we suddenly realize that something is wrong. While getting a poor grade on a test may seem like a problem, the real problem will most likely be found in the preparation for that test.

We live in a fast culture, where speed and efficiency is prized. But consider that true efficiency in learning and the forming of new habits may lie in our ability to take a moment (or several) to choose the best solution before executing on any actions. Whether that's choosing a fresh fruit or vegetable to snack on instead of a candy bar or monitoring how curved our thumb feels in our bow hold, the best learning takes place when we take the time to be slow and mindful, instead of being reactive and giving in to old habits.