Leopard can't change its spots
I like to think that the wolf does NOT want to change its habit at all.
Actually, the definition of HABIT doesn't specify if it's positve or negative.
Check it out.
Some say they have the good habit of taking a walk in the morning, others have a good habit reading before going to sleep. Or to sleep 8 hours a night. But what if I say that I have the habit of smoking a cigarette every 2 hours? Or watching 4 hours of TV series every night? The line between good and bad habit is really thin, indeed. Also, some might disagree with saying that smoking a cigarette every now and then is a bad habit, or that playing video games for 3 hours, or even being on Facebook for 30 minutes a day leads to ruin.
Well?. Maybe? So the question I ask myself (and ask you) is: what makes you a successful person? or, more generally, what do successful people owe their good fortune to? Oops, I said "LUCK"? So, according to hearsay, is "luck" the key to success? According to James Clear (from the book "Atomic Habits") habits play a key role in achieving success because they are among the few things that can be controlled (luck? not so much).
I fully agree, of course, and not because he has written a book on the subject that has sold millions of copies. I agree with him because I have read biographies of famous people who have practised real rituals in order to follow certain habits and that extra degree of control led them to success.
Therefore, what is a habitLet's have a look at some defintions from Collins dictionary habit among others:
- Def 1: learned behavioural response that has become associated with a particular situation, esp one frequently repeated - Def 2: A practice or substance to which a person is addicted
Thus, a habit is formed by repeating it over and over again until it becomes an automatic process (automatic mental programme...more on that later) that you do not need to exert any effort to execute. In fact, the habits that are easiest to form are those that require little effort because they are perpetuated with the minimum use of energy on the part of the brain.
I beg your pardon? Am I wrong? Is it easier to smoke a cigarette or do five minutes of yoga? Is it easier to watch an entire TV series or do an hour of meditation? In the morning, when you wake up, is it easier to pick up your mobile phone and immediately check who has written in the group or posted something on Facebook? Or is it easier to get up, put on your running shoes and go out for a run?
At the same time I ask you:
is it easier to break a bad habit (smoking) or create a good one, perhaps for your health, such as a balanced diet or starting to run (20 minutes) every day? OK, you don't need to answer.
I know I need more to change your mind, and I also know that our brain was originally programmed to protect us and consume the minimum amount of energy required for its functioning and that of the body it governs. Actually, in some cases, not all habits are bad and, perhaps, it isn't necessary to break them all (at least, not all at once).
Put it on the economic side: the economy of your time. What I'm trying to say is that if the time you waste in habit takes hours away from another activity, there is little you can do about it. There are two things: either you multiply the hours at your disposal or you decide that some of those habits must be replaced.
'So, how do we remove a bad habit to create a new, good, one?
It's not so simple to implement but the concept is among the most mundane.
Basically, if human beings take their steps in the direction that requires the least effort, in order to break down those habits, we need to put obstacles between ourselves and them. On the contrary, in order to create new ones (we suppose harder to repeat) we need to make it as easy as possible for ourselves. In other words, we increase the gap between us and the bad habit and decrease it between the current state and the new habit we want to create.
There are studies and very indicative cases of people who have used various methods to change their habits. What is important is to start, in small steps, a habit. At this stage it is important that you are able to gratify yourself with every step you take towards this new way of being.
In truth, we all need good motivation to do certain things and, we need more than one good reason to getting used to a new lifestyle, or a new practice.
Two things related to physical health always come to mind, which are diet and daily exercise.
It is completely understandable that if you don't have diabetes, or cholesterol, you see no reasons to get healthy food (lucky you that you are thin so you can eat a kilo of chocolate whenever you want to) or that you don't feel like leaving the house in a cold morning for a run if you don't need to lose 20kg. (Lucky you that you run every day so you don't feel guilty if you stuff yourself with pasta carbonara).
So, why changing habit? (again that question)??
Friends, how do you explain the excellence of certain sports figures who run continuously for 130Km. Or of formula 1 drivers who races for an hour and a half at 300km/h? Or of that biker who, at 220km/h, realises that the bike can no longer brake and decides, in a second, that dropping is safer than continuing his ride to the edge of the track? I know that at certain levels other motivating factors come into play: adrenalin, the desire to finish first, the need to crown the efforts of years.
I also know that those who faces some situation, are tempted to chose the easiest way and give up (all things considered, I can go ahead like this few more months...)
But remember one thing: one's life can change in a moment (Covid-19 taught us this) and nothing lasts forever. It may sound like a cliche, but everyone has been beaten once in life. In those moments we are forced to change our habits, willingly or unwillingly, and, then we will have to reckon with ourselves and our willpower. And in any case, let me tell you, each one of us can make a difference to ourselves, and I assure you that when you have taken that little step forward, when you have reached that little milestone, when you have surpassed, even by a little, your limit you will feel really good.
That emotional trigger, that satisfaction, that pleasure will give you the strength to keep repeating that action and what was previously a mirage has become your new habit! It may be a sport, a diet, spending more time with your partner, with your children, or continuing the search for a way to pursue your dream, the one that many told you to give up because you couldn't get there and only with the habit of resisting have you managed to make it come true.
3 Responses
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