How to Break Bad Habits

Seasonal Change: Physical triggers

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Identify and evaluate your habits

Watching the Karate Kid, where Mr.Hong became the mentor identifying his student’s bad habits he first began teaching him to change his old habits before teaching self-defense. I also realized that it takes quite some time energy, multiple attempts to get rid of bad habits.

When we enter a new season
we most likely are drawn to some of the old habits. Whether good or bad, a habit becomes a way of thinking and acting 🎭 influencing and directing our whole life. It is so influential, it can override and effects living a purposeful life and eventually lead us astray. Repetition provides a comfortable seat for a habit.

Let look at some definitions first.

1.Cambridge

something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it:

Dictionary.com

an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary: the habit of looking both ways before crossing the street.

Bible Gateway

Set patterns of behaviour.

The stages of a habit

From the definitions, I realize that a habit is actually a set pattern, starting with the cue that triggers your brain to initiate a behavior. It is a bit of information that predicts a reward. (Atomic Habits). When we eliminate the cue, we remove the temptation.

Personally, I think that the next stage is the most intense where all the temptation is luring you into the actual act, which then takes you to the next level, called the response. This is quite an intense battle to overcome if one wants to break free.

Take Action

Evaluate your habits closely and set a habit tracker.
Reward any improvements on a progress tracker.
Remove or hide the cue: for instance- if you want to cut down on coffee or tea, put these cues away so they are not visible to send messages to the brain.
Get in control: Dominate
Be persistent
Persevere
Make lifestyle changes
Make environmental changes
Be positive
Get a partner or a support group

Conclusion

Our endurance and perseverance will be greatly tested. Some fail timeously, few overcome bad habits because of faith and emotional strength.

Using the most authorized weapon for me is the word of God speaking and agreeing His will for my life. The word of God has the transforming power to melt me out of conforming habits to habits agreeing with His word.