3 Ways to Change Bad Habits

Do you have a habit of focusing on negative events? Are you attracting the same circumstances, the same people, in and out of the same dead end relationships over and over again? Does your inner voice sound something like this; “I just don’t want to be hurt anymore,” “I’m sad and depressed all the time,” “my life stinks?” So how do you change a thought pattern that does not bring the results you want?

We all know that habits shape our lives and there are a variety of ways to change a habit. The concept is simply to create a new thought. Each time you have a self defeating or sabotaging thought, replace it with a thought that will take you one step closer to your goal. “Before you can change you mind, you must change what goes into it.” Zig Ziglar

Described below is a method that you can use to create new patterns or reprogram my thoughts. It’s a technique you can use multiple times a day with little to no effort. The more you replace a negative thought with a positive thought, over time you will automatically shift to thinking the new way. The more you use it, the better the results.

Change Your Body Position

Here’s a technique I learned from Jack Canfield, called “Change your body position.” Stand up with your hands down to your side, your chin tucked and say, “I’m excited and happy”. Pay attention to the tone of your voice. Even though you are saying something positive, you will say it with a low and unconvincing tone. Now stand with your chin up and arms held high like Rocky when he ran up the steps in the movie and say, “I’m bored and tired.” Due to your body position, it forces you to say a negative statement with vigor and confidence. So the next time you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, change you body position to create a better feeling.

Mirror Time

Another technique you can use is called “mirror time”. Take some time each day, about 10 -15 minutes, stand in front of the mirror and repeat positive affirmations about yourself. An affirmation is a statement about a goal in it’s already completed state. Here’s are some examples: “I am my perfect body.” “I am my perfect weight.” “I am kind and generous.” “I am fun loving and cheerful.” You want to look yourself in the eyes while you say these statements and really feel what it would be like to accomplish these actions.

Now these words coupled with you putting forth the effort to be your intention, will bring about your desired result. It would be impossible to become your perfect body or perfect weight, if you continued to eat unhealthy, not exercise, and smoke 3 packs of cigarettes everyday. The goal behind the exercise is to reinforce the “I am” command, by hearing it, seeing yourself say it and really feeling the joyful energy you receive by acting as if. With practice and visualization, your feelings will be consumed by the experience of allowing those energies to flow thru you. The mirror exercise has really been a favorite!

21 Day Rule

Another exercise you can use is called the 21 day rule. The concept behind the 21 day rule is that it take 21 days to create a new habit. So if you do something for 21 days in a row, it becomes a habit.

Let’s say you decide for the next 21 days that you are going to walk 45 minutes a day. You can make this into a SMART goal so you’ll follow through. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time limited. Is the goal specific? – Yes. Starting July 11, 2011 to July 31,2011, you will walk for 45 minutes a day. Is the goal measurable? – Yes. You can time yourself for a 45 minute walk each day. Is the goal attainable? – Yes. You can walk 45 minutes for the next 21 days. Is the goal realistic? – Yes. You can realistically set aside 45 minutes to walk a day for the next 21 days. Is it time limited? – Yes. You have scheduled July 11, 2011 to July 31,2011 as your time frame to complete this goal.

We are all capable of accomplishing our goals, and we simply need to be reminded of ways to stay on target and overcome obstacles.