Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time. -Mark Twain
Habits are like shadows; they are with us and follow us wherever we go. They are the things we repeatedly do. They may either serve you well by helping you improve your life or be a stumbling block to living your best life.
Good habits are winning habits because they help to propel your life forward. For instance, waking up early to engage in activities that help bring your goals closer to achievement, attending a meeting on time, saving and investing, reading success nurturing books, surrounding yourself with successful people, planning for the future, spending time purposefully are good habits everyone should have.
Bad habits are like the killer disease HIV/AIDS that slowly breaks down your immune system, exposing you to opportunistic diseases that will eventually end your life. Practical examples of bad habits are alcoholism, smoking, drug abuse and indiscriminate sex to mention but a few. They are not only distractive but destructive as well.
Everyone who wants to realize his full potential and be on top of issues must consider giving up bad habits. It takes will power, considerable strength, endurance, strong character, patience, faith and grace to successfully overcome bad habits.
To stop a bad habit, you need to figure out why you are into it in the first place. Are you facing serious challenges in life such as debts, divorce, illness, accommodation issues, unemployment, difficulty in bringing food to the table, death of a loved one, loss of property and life time savings in fire or to armed robbery etc. These situations can lead to boredom, anxiety, depression, feelings of helplessness among others. Some in a desperate effort to search for solution make the wrong decision by indulging in bad habits that compound their problems.
If you want to improve upon your self-development and accomplish worthwhile goals, then begin working hard on your bad habits; kick them out of your life. This will not be easy as old habits die hard. You will have to endure setbacks before you’re successful.
Write down your bad habits. This will help you map out strategies to deal with them individually and collectively.
You need to identify what fuels your bad habits. For instance if your habit is alcoholism, you should not be in the company of people who drink alcohol nor should you visit places where alcohol is sold or shared.
If you can identify what triggers and prolong your bad habits, it will be easier for you to successfully deal with them. For instance, if you can connect your habit to a situation, place or whatever is a trigger for you, the easier it will be for you to disconnect and overcome the habit.
Let’s take a closer look at habits that are bad but also more common in our society today.
When you always feel jealous about other people, it is a very bad habit. It often stems from your own inadequacies or insecurities. It can destroy relationships. Jealousy can make you do crazy things. You need to overcome it or lose the respect people have for you. You need to replace the negative thoughts that flow through your mind with positive and empowering thoughts. When you change your thoughts, you change your life.
Nail biting or other nervous habits are bad. They are often caused by boredom or stress. If you are a smoker, you will go in for a cigarette or in the absence of that bite your ragged nails or cuticles.
To overcome this bad habit, have a conversation with an acquaintance; take inspiration from what you have so far accomplished in life and what plans you have for the future. Take a walk with your spouse or children and begin to admire nature-the beautiful trees, the silvery clouds, the hills, the waves of the sea, rivers, the beautiful flowers around, the birds that sing etc. This will help ward off boredom and prevent you returning to the old habit of nail biting.
Impulsive shopping is another bad experience for most people. They go to the shopping mall or supermarket and buy things on impulse. They buy things that are not important. This leads to waste of scarce financial resources.
To overcome impulsive buying, draw a budget that will consist in the things that are most important to you. It will ensure your resources are used judiciously and not on the spur of the moment.
Gossiping is very pervasive in our society. It implies the unsavory remarks, lies, negative talk about people in their absence. Gossip occurs everywhere-in our homes, offices, churches, schools, market, TV, movies and what have you.
Gossip can tarnish the image and reputation of another person. It is a sign of immaturity and a lack of character. Even if you don’t engage in it, you are connected to it if you listen and give it credence.
Avoid gossip as it can destroy relationships. It can crush positive thoughts and leave you with low energy.
Some people have the bad habit of swearing anytime they want to make a point or when there is an enquiry that involves them. You need to stop swearing and grow up. Avoid swear words as they have a negative influence in your life and serve no useful purpose. People who previously admired you will begin to drift away from you. Nobody will like to keep company with one whose stock in trade is to use swear words even in issues that do not matter very much.
Compulsive hoarding is another bad habit. It reflects in people who collect and keep items they may never use again. It points out one fact, disorganization on the part of the one hoarding things.
To break this habit, the person involved should seek wise counsel from a psychologist or professional counselor. He should equip himself with organizational skills by reading books on the issue of organization.
An uncontrolled anger habit may denote depression or deep emotional pain. It can be a serious stumbling block to progress in life. It can affect your relationships, make career progression difficult, and it can ultimately lead to disastrous consequences. Anger is short madness as it can cause you to be aggressive towards people. Resolve to not act when you are in a fit of anger. Count an hundred before you express your anger. Remember the old Chinese proverb which states: “If you’re patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow”.
Bad financial habit can make you a miserable person. Those afflicted with this habit always rob Peter to pay Paul. They always have a heavy load of debt. To avoid this habit, get financial education. Learn how to manage money. Don’t overspend and save for a rainy day.
The habit of stealing deserves our attention because too many people are behind bars for it. Remember thieves are the least respected in society.
The solution lies in the proper use of your mental computer. Do honest work to earn money and buy what you need. Use your talents, abilities and capabilities to render services to people in return for their money. Stealing is not a tag you will want to be placed in your life.
In conclusion, bad habits can be a serious barrier to progress in life. They are like a cable that is difficult to break. However with great effort, focused attention, God’s grace, patience, all negativity can be replaced by positive and empowering thoughts. Identify your bad habits and map out strategies to overcome them. You will encounter setbacks, but with perseverance and determination, you can give up your bad habits that are a serious danger in your path to leading a responsible, fulfilling life.
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