You have heard many times in your life that human beings are “creatures of habit.” That is probably about as far as you have taken it. I think sometimes it is code for “I don’t want to change, so don’t ask.”

We are many times more attracted to thoughts and conversations about “bad” habits. Also, the next plan to “break” a bad habit is another bad habit. Around New Years, some will make resolutions to break a habit they’ve had forever and ever. How is that working for you?

An inquiry into the nature of habits is however worthy of our time. The bulk of our day is made up of reactions which come from our habits. We react to a stimulus of some kind and our response is always the same. Some our responses have utility and some do not.

If I shout “Duck!”, there is a probably utility in reacting. Those kinds of reactions aren’t a big concern for me in this particular conversation. What is a concern are those habits that produce reactions that block us in our attempt to accomplish our goals and fulfill our intentions. The reactions that we keep repeating over and over that give us that same unsatisfactory result. You know, the definition of insanity.

Some of these habits we recognize, some we don’t. The ones we recognize we may have tried to break with predictably poor results. I would strongly suggest you give up the practice of breaking habits.

“Then, what should I do?”, you ask? It is simple, but not always easy. Remember how long you have been practicing the habit. It will not go quietly into the night.

What you do is create a new habit that by its very nature erases the old one. As an example, your habit is inconsistency in the way you execute your fitness program. You got to the gym once this week instead of the three times on your schedule.

 This habit thing seems to be thought of as a personal gig. How about this as a new habit?

  • Tell your friends, colleagues, family, etc. your fitness plan and ask for their support.
  • Find one of more persons to do it with you.
  • Ask someone to hold you to account for what you said you would do.

It takes 45-60 days of practicing your new habit before it will cause the old one to disappear. No misses.

When you commit to something, it takes 100% of your best effort. I didn’t say it would be easy. Build your support team.

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