The Power of Habits

The law of harvest is to reap more than you sow. Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny. – James Allen

Habits

The human brain is our worst enemy when programmed incorrectly. It is also our most powerful tool when properly utilized. Understand this! The brain always works to save energy. This relates to forming habits as the brain creates and develops natural patterns — habits — so the brain can save energy. Imagine if you had to think about every time you needed your heart to beat or your eyes to blink. Wouldn’t that consume a lot more energy?

At the surface level, we can all agree with certain truths like vegetables are nutritious and exercise is healthy. Anyone could take a multiple-choice test, pick the “correct” answers, and go about their day feeling smart. But knowing is different. Knowing is doing.

Life is constant struggle. Our brains are already working on overdrive. Why not develop effective habits so that we are better prepared for life’s challenges?

Our minds gravitate and attract what we are most familiar with. We can build ourselves up or tear ourselves down without even thinking. Remember we don’t think about blinking or breathing or our heart beating, we just do it. Good or bad habits work the same way. Which brings me to the next statement — just as GOOD habits must be formed; BAD habits must be removed.

Remove Bad Habits

It’s not all about creating good habits. High performers attest that removing bad habits is even more critical.

Better health is you removing your habit of eating junk food. Better relationships is you removing the habit of watching TV during family meals, so you can connect with your loved ones. Better mental health is you removing the habit of spending hours on social media, so you have time to meditate. All of these are just examples. You get the point.

Now that we have a stronger reason to remove our bad habits, let’s discuss ways and strategies for removing them.

Crossing Out Trick

Visualize crossing or scratching it out. Visualize your bad habit written out on paper, then visualize yourself crossing it out with. You must do it over and over again and BELIEVE IT.

Television Trick

Visualize yourself watching TV. On the TV is you doing the bad habit. Feel the disappointment, the disgust, the shame — whatever gives you the desire to be better. Turn the TV off. Now, visualize yourself on TV doing the right thing, the removal of the bad habit.

Example: Instead of me on the TV drinking soda, now I’m on TV drinking water.

Noise Trick

Any time you feel tempted by a bad habit, imagine a noise you don’t like in your head. It could be an air horn, a car horn, the sound of fingernails scraping a chalkboard, etc. Hear the noise in your head and tell yourself, “I am removing the habit, I am done with the habit.”

For all of these, you MUST do it over and over again. Do not expect them to work the first time.

Develop Effective Habits

Often times real change comes from shifting one’s perspective. See the bigger picture. THINK BIGGER because it’s always been bigger than you.

Look at what you’re doing from a different lens to realize the habit’s impact on your life. How much it is hurting or helping you? How much is it hurting or helping your loved ones? How is the habit bringing you closer or taking you further from your dreams and goals? Only you know the reasons behind a habit. How compelling are those reasons?

The crux is this. Ask yourself, “What habits do I need in order to get what I want?”

Because habits build skills. It’s the new skills you acquire that get you where you want to be in life. It’s not about what you’re good at — It’s not about giftedness. It’s about your calling in life. It’s about choosing your purpose. When you choose your purpose, now you can choose the habits and skills required to fulfill that purpose.

It’s not about what you have, it’s about what you need. And you will find that you have all that you need.

Because it’s YOU building the habits, building the skills that get YOU closer to YOUR purpose.

One must empty oneself in order to be filled. Empty yourself of habits that do not serve you while establishing habits that get you closer to your objective.

LET’S GO CHAMP