Training the Ego: Setting Good Habits

“Bad Habits” by counterclockwise is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Lesson Four

Setting Good Habits

You start your new way. You write or draw each day. But how do you stick with it? Good news waits for you. Most habits form fast. Just three times in a row can plant the seed.

Pick one spot and time. Say, right after your tea. Do your task there each day. Keep it small and same. Feel the pull grow strong. By day three, check your heart. Does it feel more like you? If yes, it takes root.

What if it does not stick? That is fine. Do not fight it hard. This miss shows you truth. Maybe that time feels wrong. Or your mind needs rest. Learn from it. You grow wise.

Try a new cue next. Link it to old acts. Like brush teeth, then write. Reps build the bridge slow. Miss one day? Jump back in. Three more tries tell all. You shape self with grace.

Soon, good acts feel real. They boost your true bright self. Trust the flow. You bloom.

Breaking Bad Habits

Bad habits can hold on tight. Often, you want to break free from them, t’s not easy. You can break them, you can win. But, it is important to know that some bad habits can keep you safe.

The first thing to know, is to know your triggers. Triggers are events or feelings that starts your habit? Is it stress? Being in a certain place?

You will need to find that cue, but it may take time. You may need to keep the habit a bit longer, while you get to know exactly how, and why, it happens.

Watching for habits can be a bit of a pain.

Sometimes, every time we undo them,

They come back, all over again.

That is really ok, to be this way,

Think of that knowledge you have gained.

About yourself, in this world,

And how you feel, think and work.

And how you can change you habitual thirst,

Simply by putting yourself first,

Once you understand your habit, and feel confident to try and change it, you can try changing your space, or adding a small block to prevent you from playing out the habit without thinking to stop it.

Then, try swapping those old acts for new ones that give a good, or better feel for you. If you want less sugar, try fruit. If you stress-eat, try our calm-breathing. Other examples might include: try moving snacks out of sight, turn off the TV, or chew gum instead.

Remember, it’s okay to slip. And also, this may be something that keeps you safe; less stressed, for example. Don’t quit, though, keep trying. Each try teaches you more about yourself. Sometimes other things, hidden away by ego, need that habit to be maintained.

Use your mind to see success; Imagine the new you – paint a picture, or write a story, of that new you. Promise yourself, that no matter how long it takes, You will try again, and in the end, you will be doing great. Stand strong, break free, and grow true.

Be patient. Bad habits fade with slow and steady change. You have the power to choose your own path, this includes when and how to drop those not so bad, sometimes helpful habits.