How your bad habits are good for you

Some of you smoke and know you shouldn’t.
Some of you hit the drive thru and know you shouldn’t.
Some of you twiddle your thumbs and avoid tasks and know you shouldn’t.
Some of you do some other thing and know you shouldn’t.  

Each of those things that you “shouldn’t” do, is actually fulfilling a need of yours.  In that way, bad habits are actually good because they fulfill your needs.

Maybe the smoking gives you a chance to take a break at work, and hang out with some really great people. Maybe it decreases anxiety.

Maybe the drive thru helps you save time because you are over-scheduled and too tired to cook.

Maybe the work avoidance allows you to feel safe because you aren’t risking doing that one big thing that will move your work forward. It’s easier to fail to try than to try and fail.  (This is a big one for me as an entrepreneur).

If you know you are doing something that you “shouldn’t”, then you first need to start with figuring out what need it is fulfilling and work backwards. 

No need to get nasty with yourself.

Be a detective or a scientist or an explorer.  Spend some time thinking of what it is that your vice is doing for you.    What does _____ give me? What else? What else? Could that be the real reason I do _______________?

Next, come up with a list of possible substitutions. What else can fulfill that same need?

Write down some options and do some experimenting to find out what sticks.

When I feel the need to ____________, then I am going to ___________ instead.  

And please, tell someone what you are up to.

We need support when we are making changes, so lean on someone to support you. If you really want to make the change, you need a coach and cheerleaders on the sidelines.

It also helps to think of the bigger why. Why don’t you want to engage in said activity? What is your bigger vision for yourself and your life? What do you value?

If you are truly committed to your health, than smoking or the drive thru aren’t really great options.

If you are truly committed to your financial freedom, than avoiding work and avoiding a paycheck also aren’t great options.  

It starts with awareness, but action follows.  

You get to chose what action you take.

It's Your Life. Live It Boldly.