Out with the Bad, In with the Good
Why do you do it? Oh, I know it's not always obvious. But walking along the surface
of your habit or not, there is a reason you do it. There is always a reason you do
it.
Many teens begin smoking to fit in. Some overly eager eaters eat too much because
they're lonely. There are many other reasons that people do these things, of
course. But the point is that every habit has a reason. And in that reason is the
engine of action.
So how do you stop the habit, or at least slow it down? Uncover that engine. When
you reach the underlying reasons for your habit, you finally get the chance to work
on the actual problem.
Consider those over-eaters. They could spend a lifetime battling against their
appetites, trying to figure out ways to suppress the hunger, when all the while it
was loneliness that drove their eating. Without working on the cause, nothing is
going to change.
1. Realize there is a reason. Your first step is the easiest and most important.
Believe that there is a reason. The whole process rests on this idea. If you don't
agree with it, nothing else matters. When you're convinced, however, move on to
step two.
2. Uncover the reason. It's time for detective work, Sherlock. After convincing
yourself that there is a reason, you next have to figure out what it is. Why do you
do it? What does it do for you?
The answer is there, perhaps hidden under a pile of clutter or excuses. Keep looking.
Ask for help from friends. Ask your wife or husband. Read about it.
3. Replace the habit. With the reason for your habit uncovered, the final step is
to replace the negative behavior with a positive one. Example: if you eat because
you're lonely, find healthy ways to get social contact.
Join a book club, teach people how to read, or invite the neighbors over for dinner.
What you do doesn't matter, as long as you're swapping the negative for the positive.
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