How to Overcome Bad Habits

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

We all are creatures of habits. They can be our best friend or our worst enemy. Habits can easily make or break us. It is important that we get rid of bad habits and cultivate good ones. This helps our personal development.

When we do something repeatedly over time it becomes a habit. More often we engage in a particular behavior, stronger it becomes. If a habit stays with us for a long period of time it almost becomes a part of us. Old habits die hard but it is possible to get rid of an undesirable habit by forming a new desirable one in its place.

Most people are controlled by their habits. They don’t think that why they do things this way or that. They make excuses for their behavior. They may say that they are made that way and there is nothing that they can do about it. “This is who I am”, a person slave of his habits might say. He doesn’t want to believe that, it is his personality who is attracted towards an undesirable behavior and not his real self.

We are forming new habits every day and as we grow older they become deeply rooted in us and we become like automatic machines. We began to do things in a certain way and people around us expect us to be that way. So our habits not only affect us but also our relationships in life.

Don’t blame anyone else for your habits. For example a person might say that he smokes to get away from the problems in his life. His problems are still there while he is smoking. This doesn’t help his situation. He is making excuses to justify his behavior. Only you are responsible for your habits. It is easy to form bad or good habits and you should only form the later. Don’t give yourself chance to acquire bad habits. Surround yourself with helpful influences. Associate with people who will be helpful in your self improvement. Calm, steady and positive people will aid you in your personal development.

To overcome a bad habit firstly you must have a strong will and secondly you must replace it with a habit of opposite nature. A strong will makes you a strong person. Once you have made a resolution to get rid of a habit, stick to your resolve. Every time you are tempted, look at it as an opportunity for your growth and inner strength. When you don’t give in to a temptation, you become stronger. When you give in you become weaker. It is important that you strengthen your will power so that you can have a better control over your habits. To exercise your will, every day do something which you normally don’t like to do. It could be any tedious or boring chore that you hate to do. Keep your will in top shape so that you can use it any time you need it.

We have many good habits also. We automatically do things which are beneficial for us, for example, looking both ways when crossing a street. The right kind of habit prevents us from getting hurt and making a mistake. It is important that we rid our selves of habits of trivial nature. I always used to watch T.V when I have my meals. I overcame this habit by concentrating on my food instead of watching TV. You must always replace an undesirable habit with a desirable one.

Most people acquire bad habits when they are having a difficult time in their lives. When life seems stormy, some people acquire a habit of excessive drinking or over eating. Anyone can think and act right when life is easy and content because then it acquires no great effort to do so. We show our true colours when life gets difficult and we are overwhelmed by it. In such a situation we must remember that we are connected to a divine intelligence. A small effort on our part to live as we should will be backed up with tremendous power. With our higher self on our side nothing can happen in life which could permanently damage us. If you have problems in your life then don’t respond with negativity. Be silent for a while and you will get inspiration from your higher nature. You will find courage to deal with your situation. The unlimited power in you is always ready to manifest itself in the form that will meet your needs.

We know that habits are acquired through repeated use. It is also possible that we are born with certain tendencies. We may also pick up habits by suggestion from others; from people in our lives, from reading watching television or movies, listening to teachers and so on. Some of these are positive and some negative. Each time we engage in a positive thought or behaviour, the easier it becomes for us to repeat it. The best way to overcome negative habits is to replace them with positive ones. For example be active instead of lazy or cheerful instead of gloomy.

Bottom line is if you want to get rid of a certain habit, cultivate its opposite. Firmly secure the newly acquired habit with repeated use. Your old habit will put up a strong resistance at first. When it will get no attention from you it will become weak and will eventually die. With practice, will power and steady work you can overcome any habit. When you assume “I can and I will” attitude you can get over any hurdle in your life.

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