Why Habits Matter

As we take a deep dive into what is really draining your energy on this week’s podcast episode, we begin to uncover the pattern of unhealthy habits. Things we tend to do or not do on the daily, on the monthly, or whatever that in and of themselves seem almost insignificant.  Benign, we tell ourselves.  It’s just not on fire like some other things right now…boy if we only knew then what we know now: That by NOT taking care of the bad habits, the deferred maintenance the avoidance of the situation we were simply adding more kindling until someone lit a match.  Habits add up,  and the can wreak more havoc than we’d like to admit. What we are doing is simply not working.  At least not well.

Like every time we put off paying something, because we have to go online or sit on hold and it’s just too much of a pain to do today, or when we avoid asking for help.  Almost every time we don’t say no.  Or maybe just neglect our physical health because work is too demanding.  Others need us too  much.  It’s all just too much to get done.  Well, these things eventually come back to bite us in the ass.  There are natural consequences looming that we deny…where then we get to deal with putting out the fires we were just talking about!

I know you know all of this, and that it’s all common sense.  I’m not talking to your head with this.  I am speaking to your heart.  Because I know that it won’t be until things get really bad or until you get so disgusted with status quo that it won’t change.  Habits take effort to change. They are also one of the few things in life we have control over committing to changing too.  But we have to change in the process. Boundaries = acceptance of reality.  Maturing in this area emotionally is key to changing how we operate. Being proactive is so key to warding off drama and more fires.

It was Einstein who said “Success is Merely a Series of Good Habits”. When I first heard that years ago I was so happy.  And hopeful.  Because that means any one of us can be successful.  We can be disciplined,  and we can change.  Maybe it will be easier for some of us than others, but it is doable.

Think about the concept of compound interest for saving money.  Or what about taking care of the roof before you have water damage.  And imagine how good it will feel to lose ten pounds because you started exercising and eating better.  Even having a cleaner house and having friends over.  It’s the small things that add up.  Not quickly enough for our impatient instant culture.  But they do.  Habits Matter.

So start small.  Get one habit down this month until the change is just your new normal.  Then tackle the next one and the next. Get some coaching if you need some help.  Slowly but surely you will change.  You will feel better.  And maybe someday soon you can put that heavy fire hose down.