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Copyright © 2010 Mind Body Spirit Central, LLC
Experts agree that over 90% of our daily behavior is habitual. Habits make or break us to a far greater extent than we ever would like to admit. Habits can be both a powerful enemy and wonderful ally.
In fact Ovid, the Roman poet who lived 2,000 years ago, said "Nothing is stronger than habit".
Your life is a mass of habits that irresistibly draw you toward your future. Practical, emotional, and intellectual, your habits are systematically organized for your benefit and detriment. You must learn to overcome habits which restrict and injure your future or destiny and to cultivate those which increase it.
Habits have often been called a "labor-saving invention" and are engrained in our being through repetition. After they are formed, they require less mental and physical strength to accomplish everyday tasks. Whether good or bad, anything you do over and over again becomes a habit. The more deeply the good or bad habit becomes engrained, the more automatic it is. In other words, most of what we do everyday is as if we were on "auto pilot".
If it were not for our habits, we would have to be more observant of our environment. For example, when you walk across a crowded street, the habit of stopping and looking both ways prevents you from getting run over by a bus. Therefore, the right kinds of habits keep us from making mistakes and mishaps. Habits also mean less risk, less fatigue and greater accuracy.
The majority of people are controlled by, and operate in certain ways because of the power of their habits. They seldom think of concentrating on why they have certain habits, or study themselves to see if they could make improvements in their lives. The good news is that you can literally re-program yourself for greater success in any area of life. By building your Power of Concentration, you can increase your awareness and focus on developing good habits.
Positive and successful habits create positive rewards. For example, if you want to enjoy a healthy, energetic and long life, you must have positive, healthy habits. Good nutrition, daily exercise and a positive attitude have proven to have an influence on longevity and quality of life.
Negative habits lead to negative consequences. If you have negative health habits, sooner or later, you will pay the price. The results of negative habits may not show up immediately, but they will appear. People who smoke cigarettes don't die from their first cigarette, but millions of people die each year from this habit. In fact, an acquaintance of mine recently died alone from a heart attack, due to a life-long cigarette-smoking habit. When he was found a few hours later, the cigarette he was smoking was still in his hand - burned down to the end!
Whether you develop positive or negative habits all comes down to realizing that all habits are governed both consciously and subconsciously by your will.
All of us are forming new habits all the time. In fact, studies have demonstrated that on average it takes about twenty-one days to form a new habit. By the same, it takes twenty-one days to break a habit and change your pattern of behavior. Of course, the longer you hold onto that habit, the stronger it grows and the more deeply it becomes embedded and a part of you. The good news is, you can still make or break any habit by strong concentration. People just like you and me do it every day.
For example, to become healthy and fit, develop goals and habits that lead to better health and fitness.
Or as another, if you want to improve your finances study and develop habits that lead to greater wealth and financial freedom.
Start today and improve your future. No one but yourself is responsible for your habits. When you realize the importance of forming the right kind of habits, what a different world you will have for yourself.
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Keith A. Shaw is the founder and President of http://www.MindBodySpiritCentral.com. Headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Keith is an authority on motivation, self improvement, success, health and wellness.
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