Busting Old Habits

by Denise Palmisano

Busting Old Habits - Is something wrong with me? 
  
When is it going to stop?  Why do I keep doing this?  Why can't I get past this hurdle?  Have your old habits sabotaged your success again?
 
Sound familiar? Unfortunately, many people are met with obstacles while attempting to  reach any goal especially, health and body goals.  We often put ourselves and the promises we make to ourselves last.  You are not alone.  The good news is there is something you can do about it that will work this time.
 
First thing you can do is acknowledge where you are without making a judgment of you as a person.  Separate you from the action, event or circumstance.  Awaken to your sabotaging thoughts, words and actions.  What often makes us give in and give up is the interpretation of the action or circumstance.  We make it mean something about us.  You eat a donut and before you know it, you have made it mean that "You will never succeed at anything" or "You're such a failure", "Why do you even bother, no one cares".  Be careful what you practice, you will get very good at it.  These limiting beliefs and interpretations are keeping you stuck in the past an unable to move forward.  Nothing will likely change until you wake up to what is holding you back and choose to interrupt the old habit.  Maybe it is time to integrate a new standard operating procedure as additional structure your goals.  Remember, it's not that we plan to fail, we often fail to plan.
 
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!! - Time for a proven and guaranteed "Habit Buster"!!!!
 
SOP- your new standard operating procedure -
STOP -OBSERVE - PROCEED
 
Instead of making it mean something about you,
 
STOP - Pause and ask yourself a couple of questions.  Is this thought, these words or this action going to support or sabotage that healthier vision of yourself?
          Is this choice in alignment with creating optimal physical, mental or spiritual health?
 
OBSERVE - Look at your habits or patterns as either working or not working.  Remove you from the picture as something inherently wrong with you.  There is nothing wrong with you.  Reinterpret your actions and ask yourself, will this thought, word or action produce the results I want to produce?
 
               You are human and all of us have developed habits, patterns or choices that worked for us at one time. In other words, there was a pay off.  It is probably time to reassess if the pay off now is worth being on automatic pilot.  If not, then....
 
PROCEED - Reconnect with what inspired you to set this goal in the first place-
 
·        Focus on your vision -

            What would you look like once your goal is reached?
            What would it feel like to have a healthier body, mind and spirit?
            What would be available to you if you were to intervene on the old habits?

            Breathe in all of those experiences.  Let the yummy warmth of success, confidence and power soak into every cell of your body.
 
·        Be Proactive -

            Make a list of all the actions, habits and thoughts that take you further away from accomplishing your goals. As you uncover and bust a new one, write it down.  Continue to build your list.  Be willing to bust all of them, even the ones that don't seem like they are that big of a deal.  Don't forget the ones that don't expose themselves that often. Those are the sneaky ones.  You will observe how your sabotaging habits will diminish once you acknowledge them and quit judging them and quit judging you. 

            Read your list at least once a day to remind you of what is lurking in the background as possible obstacles and transparent, sabotaging habits.
 
·        Create an action plan to bust these sabotaging habits.

             What actions or practices can you integrate that will remind you to Stop-Observe-Proceed?

             What preparation or planning will be required for you reduce or eliminate limiting beliefs, actions or words?
 
             Do you have a support or networking system to lean on when tempted or discouraged?  Who can you call?  Do you have a coach?  A mentor? A friend?

             Is there a skill, competence or quality you need to learn or integrate to move forward? 
 
             Do you have an accountability partner for success?  You may want to enroll or hire a coach, a friend, a spouse.
 
             I am committed to you and your success!  What are you committed to?