2 weeks ago, I broke a habit that I had, that I hadn’t missed a beat in two years.
I wasn’t able to write and upload an article. I’m sorry. I apologize.
I forgive myself.
Because there are habits that might not matter for other people, but surely, they matter to me.
What happened?
How do you break your habits? For good, or for worse?
Inconsistency
The more consistent you do something, the more of a habit it becomes.
The more you keep looking for it, and find ways to make it happen.
Whether that’s exercise, quiet time, smoking, binge eating, or procrastination.
Meaning, the more regular I exercise, the easier it is for me, even on the hardest of days, to wake up, get ready, and get to the gym.
But when your environment changes, your situation, schedule, or even the people you’re regularly with, change, you may find it a little bit harder to continue. Especially when those circumstances force you to forego your habit.
I had to be on travel for a good week. All the places I stayed didn’t have gyms, or gym equipment. I could only do so much, and I ended up having only one good gym session in two weeks.
Now, it’s harder to get back.
Inconsistency leads to less motivation, drive, and focus.
Not having a clear reason
Habits get broken when your reason for doing the habit isn’t clear, or somewhere along the way, gets muddled or shaken.
When I first started writing articles, I shared that it was good therapy for me, and at the same time, I’m able to share what I’m learning to other people. That my reflections and thoughts would be of help to those who would read them.
Then, I started to be more strategic, and started to write articles to generate an email list. When that wasn’t working out as smoothly, my original reason was shaken, and I started to question what I was doing.
It’s the same with any activity. You lose motivation, drive, and consistency, when you don’t see the point in continuing the activity.
Even when it’s helpful for you.
Ask yourself – “Why is this important for me?”
2 simple, yet powerful, reasons
Because you can experience pain, but still continue if you were consistent, and your reason clear.
You can force yourself to stop, but if the reason in your head is still clear, and you are still consistent in your want, desire, and imagining of the habit, then you won’t lose it.
Meaning, if you also want to stop a habit, you have to be consistent in NOT doing it, and in finding a compelling reason why you must stop, and how important it is to change and stop the habit.
All the practices stem from these 2 principles.
Be consistent.
Find your why.
What’s a habit you’re trying to start, or stop? Please share in the comments below!
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