“The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ but ‘That’s funny…’ ” Isaac Asimov

I found this delicious epigram in a book on entrepreneurship, but I’m thinking of it more as an adage for fostering self-awareness. We’re humans (so we’re already amazing), but we’re flawed, too, and sometimes we engage in behaviors that range from inconsiderate to awe-inspiringly reckless. Instead of inducing waves of guilt, though, what if we proceeded methodically and noted, “Hmm … that’s peculiar. Why did I do that?”

Might such a cognitive move foster greater possibilities for change and self-care, and allow more growth? What might growth-paradigm expert Carol Dweck say?

Alcoholic Anonymous tacks an alternate course, driving AA members to embrace ritual in order to change habits. Great review of a great book here gets after this approach.