Somewhere along the line, someone sold a falsehood about habits. Since then, the subject of habits has been popular among goal-oriented people and is often linked with conversations about success, self-improvement, and productivity. The interest in habits has come to be associated with the notion that greater success simply involves developing the right habits. This notion has certain appeal and is one that we would like to prove true. Ultimately, however, it is a false notion. If you’ve tried to develop a habit and failed, there’s a simple explanation: we cannot force the development of habituation.
The actual definition of “habit” may surprise you:
Habit: a behavior pattern or mode of being that has become nearly or completely involuntary.
Many people have set themselves up to be discouraged, disillusioned, and fail to succeed due to their being unaware of two truths about habits:
1. We form habits from behaviors that support our beliefs and interests. Habits may develop as a means to gain something or avoid some consequences.
2. We cannot—ever—develop habits artificially (by willpower). That is, we cannot develop habits that we really do not want to develop and/or that do not somehow benefit us (allow us to gain or avoid something).
If you believe that waking up at 5:00 a.m. to start your day is a worthwhile habit but you’re “not a morning person,” then your effort to get up at 5:00 a.m. will always require effort from you and, therefore, by definition, cannot become a habit. Starting your day at 5:00 a.m. can only ever be a practice that you’ve adopted.
The problem with habits comes down to a misnomer. Often, people mistakenly refer to habits when what they mean is practices. The difference between habit and practice is essential to the point here: habits are natural behaviors; practices are conscious actions.
If you think you will automate your success simply by adopting the “right” habits, you will likely be disappointed. What you can do, however, is develop the practices essential to your ability to succeed.
Success: Practices Over Habits
The idea of building “good,” “right,” or “healthy” habits has been a problematic misnomer that has left many frustrated and discouraged. Somehow “habits” became confused with practices, which are about conscious self-control and persistence. Those who seek to improve by changing habits are actually faced with the development of discipline—self-control.
Again, the difference between a practice and a habit is this:
Habits become or are virtually involuntary practices.
Practices that are not habits are conscious (not automatic or reflexive) actions.
The reason people often fail to replace or develop habits is simple: habits—“good” or “bad”—have an intrinsic quality of being virtually automatic. While habits are practices, not all practices are habits. The point here is that the success of your endeavor and self-improvement may require work, effort, and sacrifice from you; success cannot be achieved automatically.
Accept this truth to save yourself some frustration and get back on track to discovering useful solutions to ensure progress toward your goal.
When it comes to self-improvement, focus on eliminating “bad” habits rather than trying to build new ones. You cannot force habituation. Instead, view your smart decisions as practices and disciplines that you’ve adopted.
The path to success is best supported with discipline—good practices and the conscious, deliberate resolve to engage in certain behaviors for the value they offer. While you cannot force habits, you can develop good practices, although they may always involve some effort from you.
Remember: you pursue your goals for their value to you, not because they come effortlessly. Learn which practices support your goals, commit to them, and work toward your potential by building discipline.
Copyright © 2020 Steven Robert Young. All rights reserved.
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