by Dee Cohen
Do you find that you can stop a habit for a short period of time but it returns? Have you tried to quit smoking, lose weight or discontinue an addiction without success?

Please don’t beat yourself up because it takes time to stop a habit. You may have fallen into this pattern since a young age and it may seem like part of your personality. It isn’t, it is something you’ve adapted.

In the east they speak about clinging and that attachment is part of why we repeat the past. Think about routines you’ve overcome from the past. Habits are not who you are but they were something you resorted to as a coping mechanism.

Are you happy with this habit? Discontent is the first step for letting go. Try to watch yourself while you smoke or overeat. This is not easy but this helps you separate yourself from the habit.

Using your will to change is helpful but won’t be the only tool that works for true inner change. Do you get into a fight between your will and your impulses? Watch this rather than be torn apart. Don’t feel that you are starving yourself if you try to cut back on eating but instead think of the new you and the energy you’ll have.

Through the use of visualization you can have a positive experience rather than feeling unhappy and deprived. You are becoming who you really want to be instead of just a slave to your past or emotions. That is something to be very proud of.

Put a picture on the fridge of what the ideal you is. Do one for six months down the road as well as one for a year later. Let this sink into your mind that you will become this person. Start small with some good habits to replace the bad ones. Even cutting back a couple of cigarettes a day is progress.

Remember that habits weren’t formed overnight and they take time to change, but you can do this and your life will be fuller for doing so.

You CAN break the patterns and learn effective Tips to Stop Bad Habits by visiting http://www.elegantbank.com/badhabits.html

Article Directory: Article Dashboard