Do we control our habits? Or do our habits control us? To say that the power of habit is immense would be an understatement. Habits serve as the basis for most of the things we do. There are many things we do every day without much consideration because they are habits. We do things a certain way because that’s the way we’ve always done them. Habits can give a comforting structure to our lives. They are like guideposts. But are they guiding us in the direction we want to go?

To be successful and live the life you want, it’s important to be a master of your habits (instead of the other way around). The first step toward controlling your habits is simply believing that you can. If you don’t believe you can, then you really can’t. If you do believe you can, then you really can. Even that is a habit! If you struggle with believing you can control your habits, you need to focus on changing that self-defeating attitude.

If you believe that you can control your habits, then you can control the direction of your life. It’s important to pay attention, and be aware of your habits. P.T. Barnum wrote that “money is like fire; a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.” I suppose that habits can be one or the other as well. Consider ways you could change your habits to become more productive. At the beginning of this section, I wrote about time management. Time management is a great thing to consider when trying to adopt better habits. Do you spend too much time checking emails, reading news stories, or looking at Facebook? Evaluate the habits you could change to become more productive.

Habitual Thinking

Just as we are creatures of habit in our actions, so we are in our thoughts. It’s a fact that the more we hear and think the same ideas, the more we adjust to them and believe them. Habitual thinking is an immense force in defining who we are. From the time we are infants we begin absorbing information and certain outlooks on the world. Our parents, experiences, and other influences instill thoughts into our young, malleable brains with frequent repetition. By the time we are five years old, we have an interpretation of reality that has been shaped by hundreds of thousands of influences. If you want to become more focused, optimistic, and productive, consider trying to change habitual thought patterns that might be holding you back. They key is:  repetition.

Like a wheel, inside a wheel, inside of you…. what you believe about yourself all comes true. (John Mellencamp)

Ways to help control your habits

• Start with small steps.
• Several times per day, visualize a new habit taking hold.
• If you have a bad habit, find a substitute for it.
• Stay away from temptations.
• Be more aware of your habits.
• Make it a game for which you get points and bonuses.

Your beliefs become your thoughts,

Your thoughts become your words,

Your words become your actions,

Your actions become your habits,

Your habits become your values,

Your values become your destiny. (Aristotle)

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