First we make our habits, then our habits make us.

First we make our habits, then our habits make us. – Charles C. Noble

Habits can turn you into a couch potato. Habits can also help you get fit. Choose wisely what you regularly do, lest your habit make you. Just a few push-ups twice a week is a start.

What does that mean?
This is another excellent chiasmus. It reminds us of the power of repeated actions, of our habits and what they can do to us, or for us.

It starts with the obvious. We do things over and over, and they become our habits. To get to the point of having a habit, we have to do it a lot of times, thus making it part of ourselves.

The quote ends by pointing out the obvious, but something we rarely think about when we start doing something which might become a habit. We become influenced by our habit, we become what we do repeatedly.

This is what so often traps us in habits which no longer serve us. We do something that seems helpful, or at least not harmful. But then it is a habit, and our lives revolve around that habit.

Why is carefully and consciously selecting our habits important?  
What harm is there in a couple of beers after a hard day at work? Well, it can be a strain on your liver, after a few years. It is also a huge source of empty calories, which will add weight to you, in time. What started as a way to relax has become a habit for an overweight and less than healthy individual.

You start by doing something which seems like fun, or is of some interest or perceived value. Then you do it some more. Pretty soon it is a habit, and you start doing it without really thinking about it, it just helps you relax, or pay attention, or feel better about yourself.

Fast forward a few years, and the habit has become part of who you are. You are no longer free, but you are beholden to the habit. Now the habit is in control more than you are, and without conscious effort to break or alter the habit, you will continue until your dying day. That’s just how it goes.

No one starts doing something expecting it to become a permanent part of their life. And only on rare occasions does it work out that way. But if we keep track of what things we frequently do, we can better see where it might lead us. We might curb the habit, or even quit altogether. But it is a decision we can only make if we are aware of what is happening.

Where can I apply this in my life?
My dad started smoking when he was a teen. That was what teens did back then. Only he never stopped. My mom stopped after about 10 years, but dad just kept on going. He smoked for about 60 years, and only quit when his lungs began to give him trouble. His habit made him who he became.

That’s just one example from my family. And there are others, ones I consider good. I like to read. I developed the habit of reading two books a day during summer break, back in Junior High School. I read so much it became a habit. Now I can’t stop. My habit has made me who I have become.

We all have habits, things we do without thinking. In turn, without thinking, they mold us. We become different because of our habits. When we notice, it is usually too late to make an easy change. It has become, well, a habit. That is when you have years of practice to somehow change.

Whole books have been written about how to change habits, so I will leave it to you to look for them online, or in the related articles section at the bottom of the post. Instead, I would like to focus on what we can do to identify those habits we wish to change.

Think about what you do a lot of. Do you watch more than a little TV? Do you listen to a lot of radio? What habits are you forming, or have you formed? How many of them are ones you would choose, if you had the option? How many do you want to change or quit altogether?

With those thoughts in mind, grab some paper and write down a few of these. Hopefully you have a few habits you are looking to modify, a few you want to quit, and a few you haven’t really turned into habits, but think you might want to make them so.

Again, for the habits you want to break, find a book or search the web for ideas that you think will work for you. For the habits you just want to modify, you are going to need a reason which is stronger than your habit. The stronger the habit, the harder it will be to modify, unless you are motivated.

If you are looking to start a new habit, start by figuring out why you want to have that habit, and come up with a strong reason. With your motivation in mind, set aside time on a regular basis, and start taking action. Over and over and over, until it becomes part of who you are, and starts to change you.

Consider trying something like this for your real New Year Resolutions. With a powerful reason, and a dedicated schedule, you actually stand a chance. At least it has worked for me. Feel free to leave a comment if you have an idea which has worked for you.

From: Twitter, @QuoteGym
confirmed at : http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Habit_(psychology) final entry
Photo by Nick Royer

Related articles

• The Secret to Changing Habits Successfully – Lifehack (lifechngr.com)
• Breaking ALL Habits (redrockcrossing.wordpress.com)
• How To Take Control And Eliminate Your Bad Habits (dumblittleman.com)
• Master or slave of habit? With mindfulness you have a choice (calmclarityproject.wordpress.com)
• 3 Secrets to Develop Habits That Matter (newspodge.wordpress.com)