Negative Habits

We all have bad habits that don’t do us any favours and it’s hard to break out of those habits because they have become a regular part of your life. They are called habits for a reason. I found that I really needed to change my mind set into something more positive in order for me to change up these negative habits. It has not been an easy journey and I sometimes still think and feel these habits creeping back in. The difference now is that I don’t let them take over and they are no longer bad habits, instead, they are just minor worries that do not even amount to anything.

Now, I am not saying that we can simply just click our fingers and get rid of negative habits. I must admit though; there was one day where I kept thinking the same old negative thoughts of comparing and kept catching myself, which is certainly an improvement and then I just had enough. I decided that it could just not go on. I had been getting so tired, exhausted even, of the same negative habits that I simply stopped. This is not to say it’s actually that simple; it has taken me a long time to not let it consume me. I had worked very hard not to compare myself and get anxious about friends and their lives it would be a waste of all that effort if I simply slipped back into old ways.

If negative habits are holding you back from living your life more positively (which they usually are), then it has got to change. When some people think of negative habits perhaps they think of smoking or drinking too much and, of course, it’s important to work on those. When I think of negative habits I think of negative ways of thinking and the impact it can have on your overall well-being. I had to look at what triggered these similar thought patterns. I knew it was all to do with confidence and that I did not feel like I was enough. I knew that it had been a while since I had time for myself. It was also possible that I needed to try something new.

Whenever I felt the habit coming back I had to have particular words in my head each time to stop it such as “here I go again, let it go”. I also think it’s important to find your trigger first, then work on that. I make sure I do things I enjoy each day that takes the focus off others and comparing. I like to write to do lists which helps me plan my day so I’m not stuck with these thoughts.

If you truly want to change these habits take one step at a time as it could take a while. Don’t be too hard on yourself as it’s not easy to break a habit. Try to find something more positive to replace it. Realise that it can’t be doing you much good and it needs to change. Work out why and how you got into this habit in the first place. I find that focusing on my own journey helps. It does not mean I forget about others and ignore them. It means I am concentrating on being more positive about my own strengths and my own life.

Remember to take little steps and think about how much better you will feel once you get rid of the habit.