Habits are hard to break. Why not start a good one?
During a recent run, my running buddy and I were talking about habits. He mentioned knowing someone who was recovering from a stroke and yet walked out onto the porch with a cigarette in hand. My first thought is, “What is that person thinking?” However, I can’t speak to that particular person’s health. Maybe she’s trying to stop. What I do know is that smoking is a risk factor for stroke. Stop smoking = Lower your risk. Smoke = Increase your risk. Those are the simple facts. Standing from afar, one would think the first thing you do after a stroke is try to limit your risk factors for having another.
This led to our conversation about the power of habits. If it’s hard to break bad habits then it’s also hard to break good habits. Which then should encourage us to do the work to establish good ones because once we do, we’re going to be doing them for a long time.
Habits.
The first definition of habit that comes up on dictionary.com is this: an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.
Take putting on your seatbelt. Part of getting in the car and taking off is putting on your seatbelt. If you got in without putting on the seatbelt and started to take off, something wouldn’t feel right.
Lay in bed at night a few minutes without having brushed your teeth, and you’ll notice your mouth just doesn’t feel right.
For me, if I don’t start my day with some Jesus time, fresh air, and movement, the whole day feels off.
Habits are powerful.
We can develop good habits like brushing our teeth and putting on a seat belt.
We can develop bad habits like eating the last few bites on our child’s plate or grabbing a piece of candy every time we pass the candy dish. (Been guilty on both counts!!!)
Instead of putting your energy into breaking a bad habit, use your energy to start a good one. Share on X
A few years ago, my husband, son, and I started taking a walk after dinner. At first, we had to be intentional about it. Eventually, it became part of our evening routine. After dinner and cleaning up, we navigate towards getting our shoes, jacket, whatever we need for a walk around the block. We established the habit during nice weather, but we were able to carry it on through winter and even when it’s a little wet outside because it’s a habit. It’s a good habit that provides benefits like fresh air, connection, and healthy digestion — just to name a few.
What’s a healthy action you’d like to implement? Some sort of exercise? Drink more water? Daily quiet time? Pick one thing. Do that thing today. Do it again tomorrow. Be sure to make it simple and start with the smallest first step. Then you can build on it.
Back to putting on a seatbelt. Do you remember when you had to tell your child, “Buckle up” every time you got in the car? I don’t have to tell my 22-year-old son to buckle up anymore. Why? It became a habit. Eventually a reminder wasn’t needed.
The same thing will happen for you. You won’t go to bed at night only to say, “I didn’t take that walk after dinner.” You won’t get to work and think, “Where is my water bottle?” But today, you might need a reminder. Today, it will take you being intentional about doing that thing. Eventually, however, it will become a habit that will be hard to break.
Identify a beneficial behavior you want to start doing because habits are hard to break. Make it a good one.
But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Psalm 22:19 (NIV) The Lord is close. He will give you the strength to do the thing when you commit your efforts to Him and ask for His help.
I’m cheering you on!
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