Simple Ways To Stop The Habits You Dislike

Posted by Dee Cohen

Are you frustrated by trying to stop a habit because it keeps returning despite your willpower? Are you tired of battling smoking, overeating, nail biting and other patterns that you’ve fallen into?

It is easy to put yourself down if you haven’t succeeded in rooting out a habit. Remember that these are difficult to stop and that you may have been doing this for years. In addition family members may have a similar pattern or may enable you.

The good thing to remember is that habits can be overcome. In eastern philosophy there are a lot of writings about attachment and that we repeat patterns until we realize that they don’t make us happy.

Are you happy with this habit? Discontent is the first step for letting go. Try to watch yourself while you smoke or overeat. This is not easy but this helps you separate yourself from the habit.

Willpower can be helpful but insight is key to preventing symptom replacement. It is natural to get in a conflict between our will and desire. We may want to be thinner but also desire the ice cream. It helps to not view what you are giving up as a deprivation but instead to see it as taking away your energy, potential and new life. For instance, visualizing the effects of smoking on your body, the odor in your hair etc is a good way to do this.

By having a positive visualization instead of dwelling on what you are giving up you’ll feel much better. Think about your increased self-esteem by stopping smoking. How proud will you be if you have lovely nails rather than nails you have to hide?

By thinking about how you’ll look in six months and putting a picture on your wall of the new you on your wall or refrigerator you’ll be attracting this healthier you. Use good habits to substitute for bad ones. This will make you proud of yourself and each day deepen your courage and confidence.

Remember that habits weren’t formed overnight and they take time to change, but you can do this and your life will be fuller for doing so.

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