3 Harsh Realities and Steps to Build A New Habit

Hello my Fellow Bitter to Better Blog Readers!

I’m ashamed to say that I reacted in a very unhealthy and negative way to an unprecedented situation in my life this week. Upon analyzing my reaction, I realized that it’s definitely a habit of mine to just blow things out of proportion.

This proved to just get me all worked up and stressed, instead finding a solution to the problem, I stomped my feet for a few and shut down for the day. SO UNPRODUCTIVE! (I’m only human, judge me ha-ha)

I must get rid of this habit!

A quote from one of my favorite philosophers came to mind;

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

- Aristotle

If I repeatedly overreact when I get upset then I’ll never master that which I truly desire, to be in control and a rational thinker, even during hard times.

SO THEN WE ASK…WHAT BECOMES HABITUAL?

First let’s agree that a habit is formed by doing something in particular, over and over again, through time.

For example, it’s a habit to brush our teeth first thing every morning. This is because we have conditioned ourselves to do so, over time, through repetition.

Building new habits require the same concept; that we purposely do what we wish to turn into a new habit, repeatedly. This is the only way to create a new habit. It’s not rocket science! Easy right!?

WRONG!!

LET’S DISSECT HOW THIS WORKS…

You didn’t just wake up one day, start brushing your teeth and decide that this is what you’re supposed to do every day and bam!!! HABIT BUILT…

NOPE!!!

More than likely, as a child, an adult had to drill this into you by walking you to the sink and convincing you to brush your teeth, making sure you did, even when you didn’t feel like it. They provided information about the benefits of brushing, maybe did a little happy dance to motivate you, and then rewarded you with a high five or a smile and a compliment, KUDOS!

You gradually learned to associate brushing your teeth with a routine, and benefits (pretty, healthy teeth, and make mommy or daddy happy) that then made it easy to venture off onto doing it naturally, no push needed.

As adults, I doubt other adults will want to hold your hand through the process of building a new habit (awkward much) so that option is out the window.

How then, can we effectively build a habit?

The Harsh Reality Behind HABIT BUILDING

First and foremost stop expecting it to happen overnight. Habits are built through time.
It’s uncomfortable, because if it wasn’t, then it would come easily. Stop expecting it to be easy!
You have to be your own cheerleader! (cheerleaders not sold separately, stop looking around expecting someone to give you a high five for having discipline in your own life)

Basically, it’s our own responsibility to choose what we want to change in ourselves (be specific) and then draw out the habit we wish to build to reach that goal. Follow that plan with discipline, meaning that you stick to it even when you don’t feel like it (routine). By sticking it out and checking yourself over and over when you slip up, soon it will become habitual.

3 Simple Steps to Build a New Habit

Start small and keep it consistent. If you try to start of big, for example; exercise an hour every morning, you will feel discouraged easily and more than likely fall short on the commitment. Instead workout for 10 minutes every morning. Gradually work your way up to 15, 20, 30 minutes and so on.
Keep the benefits of building the new habit in mind. Let the end result be your main focus.
Build non-negotiable discipline. Push yourself endlessly, over and over again. You will thank yourself later for it.

Until Next Time

Just like any other habit, in order to start on the path of it becoming a default action, we must practice and do it constantly.

Believe in yourself and break the chains of comfort, embrace change and decide wholeheartedly to become better than the circumstances that surround you.

Until my next entry I hope we all set aside time to reflect and begin to make these lists of changes. Break the chains that hold you back from reaching your highest potential. Use that which has made you feel bitter to become better. Thanks for stopping by.

Please leave your comments below. Feel free to share a time when you experienced something in your life that made you bitter but you transformed it to something better.