Habits_Can_Control_You

Habits Can Control You 12/6/10 Habits are things people do repeatedly. But most of the time people are hardly aware that they even have them. They’re on autopilot. Some habits are good, such as; exercising regularly, planning ahead, and showing respect for others. Some are bad, like; thinking negatively, feeling inferior and blaming others. And some don’t really matter, including; Taking showers at night, eating yogurt with a fork, or reading magazines from back to front Depending on what they are, our habits will either make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do “Watch your thoughts, they become your actions, Watch your actions, they become habits, Watch your habits, they become you character, Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” Luckily, our minds and our bodies are stronger than our habits. Therefore, everyone can change them. For example try folding your arms. Now try folding them in the opposite way. How does it feel' It feels pretty strange. But if you folded them in the opposite way for thirty days in a row, it wouldn’t feel so strange anymore. You wouldn’t even have to think about it. You’d get in the habit. At any time you can look yourself in the mirror and say, “Hey, I don’t like this about myself,” and you can exchange a bad habit for a better one. It’s not always easy, but it’s always possible. Here are five short verses from “There’s a hole in my sidewalk” by Portia Nelson: 1. “I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost…. I am helpless. It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. 2. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe I am in the same place. But, it isn’t my fault. It takes a long time to get out. 3. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in. It’s a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. 4. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. 5. And lastly, I walk down another street. “ What are some holes in your sidewalk that you keep falling into' Do you brush your teeth and make your bed every morning' Do you give your all when doing chores' Do you study to learn or just enough to pass the test' Do you get up on time and go to bed early' Do you waste time doing things that aren’t important' Here’s a challenge for you, go home and write down in your journal your bad habits and exchange the bad ones for better one’s before you get stuck in your own hole.