Author: Patrick Wanis
What comes to your mind when I use the expression “kick the habit”? What habits are not serving you in your life?
A habit is an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. In other words, if we practice something long enough, often enough and on a consistent basis then it becomes a habit; it takes over us, it controls us and we do it without conscious thought or questioning.
We also need to understand that we engage in habits of doing and not doing. In other words, if you do not exercise, then that is also a habit – not exercising.
Recently, the US government applied the largest tax hike ever on cigarettes and combined with other state charges and taxes, suddenly, I have been inundated for requests by people for help to kick the habit of smoking.
People often speak in terms of ‘breaking a habit’ but the actual process does not simply involve pattern interruption, it involves replacing the habit with something else which still meets the benefits originally offered by the first habit. For example, instead of inhaling poisonous smoke, you now inhale fresh air, take a long walk or engage in other ways that relax you, ease your stress or give you a short break from your daily routine.
Almost all of our behavior is driven by the “Pain and Pleasure Principle” – we move away from pain and we move towards pleasure. Once the pain in any activity overrides its pleasure, we are compelled to change our behavior or habits.
In other words, to change any habit, we must first associate massive pain with that behavior and associate massive pleasure with our new consciously desired habit.
Read the rest of this entry »