When we’re changing our habits we all go through a handful of steps. One, recognize the behavior and the results it brings. Two, recognize the behavior as its happening and reprogram oneself to do something different.
Astronomical Clock courtesy of simpologist /flickr
For some people putting a rubber band on their wrist and snapping it helps them to do the new behaviour. For others EFT or Tapping works. Sometimes just a verbal reminder like an affirmation is useful. Its important how the wordage is used when trying to change our behaviors with affirmations. Always use positive language when doing them. If your often late, you would say something more to the point of, “I am always on time”. It does need to be believable, so if you want to say, “I’m always on time to meetings” or, “I’m always on time to important events”, that can work for you. Its sort of a baby step to new habits. I’ve recently been reminded that saying the bad habit in past tense is a great way to help yourself believe what your saying. For instance you would say, “I used to be late all the time.” You are using the present to remind yourself that you don’t do that old behavior anymore. Whatever you choose to do, you want to interrupt the old pattern and create a new more successful version of it. If your comfortable, get others to help you in a positive way, like the idea of a swearing or cursing jar, every time someone curses they owe money to the jar. Then do something fun with the money.
Depending on the bad habit or behavior it can take anywhere from a week to six weeks to change an naughty habit into a behavior of the past. Keep that in mind and be patient with yourself and keep on going! At the end of the day your the only one who can do it for you anyway. Good Luck and let me know how it goes!
© Lyndi Lytle 2009
