Habits The Easy Way Out!
Posted on March 02, 2011 by Rick Clemons, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
I promise to never break a bad habit again! Unless I can do it the easy way!
If you’ve ever tried to “break a habit” you know it can be…well daunting, hard, easy, challenging, a breeze…it simply depends on your perspective. Oh and brainwashing! Yes I said BRAINWASHING!
If you really think about it…habits become habits because we let our brains get…well brainwashed! Pretty plain and simple. And this even applies to addictions like smoking, alcoholism, pretty much any type of abuse. So I am just going to offer another way to view breaking the habit.
3 STEPS TO BREAKING THE HABIT!
- Separate the difference between addiction and habit. Look them up in the dictionary…they are completely different yet contribute to your situation. Once you can separate them, you’re ready to go.
- Hands down non-negotiable! When you’re ready to make the break from the addiction or habit, make it a non-negotiable with yourself. Seriously don’t give yourself permission to budge. The moment you permit one ounce of doubt to enter the equation, you’re losing the battle before it’s started.
- Celebrate what your gaining. When it’s time to break an addiction or habit we start with the “S” word…sacrifice. Instead, start with the “G” word…gain! To often we tell ourselves “I’m going to have to sacrifice…” when I go on a diet, stop smoking, quit drinking…whatever it is you have decided to break free from. So reverse the thinking!
To often we focus on the negative side of breaking a habit or getting beyond a “hurdle” in life or business. We may do it subconsciously or consciously. Either way we have to determine if we are doing this out of habit or did we create an addiction that led to a habit. For instance, ever met a person who basically has nothing positive to say? Ok, I see those smiles on your face. Of course you have! But let me ask a simple question…“Do you think this person came into the world…birthday suit and all…being negative?” I don’t think so!
When we start to truly examine what we are “addicted to” and “what has become our habits,” we suddenly find there’s a lot in life that could easily be changed once we get the connections. From there it is a process of self-talk, commitment, and celebrating the positive of what you gain by changing the addictive habit. Here’s another simple example of something we each in our own way are addicted to. We’re at a mixer, social event, or even just in our own family environment. Someone pays us a compliment and we reply, “Oh you didn’t have to say that,” or “You’re just being nice.” Hello! They wouldn’t have said what they said if they didn’t mean it. So buck up, gracefully accept the compliment, and break the addiction and habit of not taking a compliment.
I finally gained freedom from a prison, learned to savor the smell of fresh air, and am enjoying the succulent, tantalizing flavors on my restored taste buds. I’m back to being a non-smoker! And it’s been easy freeing myself from Nicotine Addiction. I finally grasped that it was an addiction first and habit second. The habit is just habit that can easily be broken with right change in perspective. I’m eating my own dog food and following Steps 1, 2, and 3! Want to join me in breaking a habit this year using the three steps?
