We are all creatures of habit and our habits whether it is good or bad forms who we are or will become in life.

Aristotle wrote, “We are what we repeatedly do.”  Therefore, through conscious or unconscious repetition we mold our character based on the constant actions we pursue everyday.

The most frightening thing about creating habits is that many times we are not aware of how we created that habit in the first place.  This reminds me of the surfers and body boarders out here in Hawaii.  While waiting for the set of waves to come in there is a constant and subtle current that usually forces people to drift away if they are not aware it.  The smart surfers are constantly paddling their way back to where were in order to be in the perfect spot when the waves come.  The lazy surfers, on the other hand, are usually not aware of the current. The next thing they know they are drifting further and further away from where they want to be.  When they finally realize how far they have drifted, they have to work 10 times harder just to get back to where they began.  Usually by that time, the smart surfers have already caught a few waves and are enjoying the surf.  This analogy pertains to most people’s lives; they’re drifting away with the current of habits with no idea where they are headed.

It’s time to take control of your surfboard, and move your life in the direction of where you really want to go.

Psychological studies reveal that 95% of everything we feel, think, do, and achieve is a result of a learned habit.

Developing bad habits can literally happen overnight because there is usually instant gratification that comes along with it.  Developing good habits require a little more awareness and commitment, but the pay out will be a life of success and happiness that comes “second nature”.

Below are five tips that you can implement in your life to build a solid foundation of habits for your healthy lifestyle.

Be Clear

Know exactly what you want from your habit and be specific about it.  The means of transportation to get you to your destination doesn’t matter if you have no idea where to go.  That private jet of yours could be the fastest and most prestigious way to travel, but if there is no destination soon the plane will crash down into flames.  A habit of wanting to be “healthy” isn’t specific enough and you must be developing clarity in your habits.  Instead, you might want to develop habits such as not drinking soda or limiting soda to one can a day, or reading a few pages of a personal development book each night.  Having a clear game plan will aid in executing the steps towards a healthy habit.

Focus

A technique that I have learned from Dr. Oz is to not focus on the negative aspect, but rather the positive.  Try and not focus on what you can’t have and instead focus on what you can have.  I know this might seem weird, but a small shift in mindset could be the one thing that helps you to get over that “hump” of creating your good habit.  Let’s say you want to start eating healthier.  Instead of telling yourself that you can’t have any ice cream, try telling yourself that you are excited to have your favorite fruit that you just bought.

Repetition

Yes I know, this sounds brutal and I hated this word when I was playing sports.  However, this is one of the most fundamental keys in creating a positive habit.  My coach and dad will drill it in my head to keep doing it and every practice I will be forced to do it.  The next thing I knew, I have created what many athletes call “muscle memory” where your body reacts to a certain situation with out hesitation because it remembers what it is supposed to do in that situation.  In order to form a long-lasting positive habit, you have to commit to the change every day.  And then recommit to it the next day and the day after that until you don’t even realize that you are doing it.

Start Out Small

Burn out is one of the biggest problems I see when creating change.  Many times people decide to make a change in their life and begin with making drastic transformations.  They create ridiculous goals by saying they are going to go to the gym 5 times a week, not eat anything sweet, and read a book a day.  Once a person realizes that this is too much they begin to take a day off, then a week off, then the next thing they know they are back to where they started.  So SLOW YOUR ROLE…try and create goals that challenge you but are able to be reasonably obtained.  Once you accomplish those goals then create another set of goals that will continue to help you grow.

Let The World Know

When establishing a new habit, it might sound absurd, but let as much people know what you are doing to create a positive habit.  You are not only accountable, but you will also begin to receive support and motivation from those who truly care about you.  Of course there will be negative dream vampires sucking the life out of you, but realize that they are probably just jealous because they aren’t willing to do what you are doing.  They are just waiting for the moment to say, “I told you so”, but instead, beat them to it so you can say, “I told you so”.

Begin by creating a good habit by surrounding yourself with people who want to see you succeed.  Follow us by subscribing to our email newsletter where you can stay updated on the latest insights.

See you at the top,

Jus10

PS – They say readers are leaders and to help you get to where you want in life learn from the best.  Click on the banners to get golden nuggets from the success miners of the world today.

*Surfer picture taken by Sean Davey at http://flickriver.com/photos/seandavey/popular-interesting/