WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE YOUR HABITS TAKING YOU?

IN LIFE, YOUR HABITS ARE LIKE THE AUTOMATIC PILOT THAT HAS BEEN PRESET TO GOVERN THE DIRECTION OF AN OCEAN LINER OR A JUMBO JET

A Habit is a response or reaction that happens without thinking. Your habits will determine your future – It's a simple law of Cause and Effect.

So how did I get these habits that don’t serve me well? 

It all started with duplicating the way our peers or parents taught us to handle a situation or “just once won’t hurt”, or doing something without thinking of the consequences because it seemed okay at the time. Initially they were just thin threads that we knew we could break easily, but as time went on they were no longer threads but thick cables mooring us permanently to the jetty of our comfort zone. At this point habits are an addiction and conversely, an addiction is a habit. Anything that controls us - that we are servants to - is a habit or an addiction - Like drinking coffee to give us a pick up, like drinking alcohol to relax, like taking a Panadol instead of drinking a big glass of water, or watching the negative news on TV etc. None of those things are bad within themselves; it is just when that is our automatic response to a situation, we are on autopilot. How we respond in a situation, with anger or withdrawal; by denial or justification; by accepting responsibility or shifting blame; responding in arrogance or humility.

 It is a simple decision to eliminate those bad habits. It's a very simple process - it just takes some applied focus. I recommend that to change from this bad habits routine you simply decide. It is easy by using this step-by-step process.

1) Clearly identify and write down your bad or unproductive habits.

a) Be very specific.

b) Identify all the long-term consequences if you continue a bad habit. Only a couple of cigarettes a day for example aren’t really much, but after 10 years you have smoked 7,300 cigarettes. This toxic chemical remains in your system and can affect your health and those around you.

c) Think of the way you interact at home. How are your communications and relations with others at home and at work? Are you a courteous driver? What are you like in your free time, do you exercise and eat healthy? How is your emotional and spiritual health?

d) Honesty is the only way to create the future you desire.

2) Clearly define your new successful habit, the benefits to you and visualize its results in your life.

a) Your new habit is usually the simple opposite of your bad habit.

b) To motivate yourself, identify all the benefits and rewards for adopting your new successful habit.

c) The more vividly you describe the benefits and create the picture in your mind, the more likely you are to take action.

3) Create a three-part action plan. 

Action steps have to be YOUR action steps that you are willing to implement and know are within your ability to follow through. If you want to stop smoking, find some supportive options like a nicotine patch or hypnosis therapy which may suit you better. Action steps that you know in your heart you won't follow through are useless.

4) Schedule these action steps into your day for the next three weeks.

Schedule your start to exercising three times a week and put it in your diary. If you want to start reading uplifting books make plans now as to where you will read without interruption and schedule an hour in your daily schedule. By using repetitive action that new habit will be formed in a short time frame

5) Then, take action!

Focus on creating one new habit at a time. Choose your three immediate steps and put them into action. Start now and do it now. Make it a priority. Remember, anything can be changed when you decide to change it.