Don’t you think this would be a perfect title of the next Die Hard movie? Call me Bruce, we’ll talk…
Oh, you know there’s going to more, this isn’t over yet.
I woke up in the night with my leg in a bear trap. The pain was excruciating. It was dark and there was no one around to help me. As I struggled to my feet, feeling at my ankle for blood I realized I’d been dreaming. My mind, trying to process the pain of the fist-sized charley horse in my leg had incorporated it into my dream.
I’d done a prolonged and unusual activity the day before, sadly, it wasn’t nearly as exciting as it sounds. I had broken a habit of procrastination and avoidance. OK, maybe I’d at least dented the habit.
The trouble with habits, these sometimes helpful, sometimes hurtful patterns of behaviour – they so can easily become addictive and breaking them is complicated.
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Phase 1 – Some call it denial. You don’t have a problem, everybody else does. This habit isn’t hurting anyone. Phase 1 can last for years and years.
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Phase 2 – You consider you might have a bad habit and contemplate whether to part ways with the habit. This phase can also last a long time.
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Phase 3 – You start looking at the good, the bad, and addictive. I like the habits, no, I hate the habits. Pros and Cons lists are made. Arguments for and against are hotly debated in your head.
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Phase 4 – The most public phase. Until now you fought the habit war in your head. With action, people will know. It’s all out there. You’ll get narrow-eyed looks, comments, praise, questions, and/or criticism. But your resolve is firm.
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Phase 5 – Staying the course. You’ve done it, kicked that habit to the curb! It’s not going to run your life, you are in charge. This is when you have to maintain. They can take our habits, but they can never take our freedom!
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Phase 6 – When the ugly stats that 9 out of 10 people relapse back into their habits within a year. And the older the habit, the harder is it to break. You get the bad news, you have Chronic Reversion Syndrome. The tests all show, the habit is back. Your family and friends fear the worst, but you know you’re going to fight it.
In your rush to recover, you should be careful, to change a habit, you need to move toward something new and better, not just away from the habit you’re trying to kick. Or try to replace a bad habit with a good habit.
How do you quit bad habits, dear readers?
Have you had success or like me, do you suffer from Chronic Reversion Syndrome?
I had the Breaking Bad Habit. Then the show ended.
Seriously tho. I think I’m at the stage where I love all my habits equally and don’t want to see any of them broken, bless their little hearts.
It was quite the habit, wasn’t it?
Aww, that’s sweet, take good care of them. 😉
I like to think my bad habits will get better as they develop their moral awareness, possibly as they age, possibly as they’re subjected to a stern gaze of moral disapproval of the kind Immanuel Kant shows in every picture of him.
That is a stern gaze Kant had, in those days, apparently no one was allowed to smile in pictures. 😉
I hope your habits mature and reach their full potential. 🙂
Cold turkey for me 😉 G-uno
Whatever works. 🙂
It took years to break a smoking habit. Tried. Failed. Tried again. Failed. Then something clicked. I wanted to quit. Success at last!
It’s true, the longer the habit, the harder to break. 😀 As always, your content is stimulating.
Thank you so much, Tess. 🙂
Some habits are also more addictive than others…I’m so glad you finally succeeded!!! 🙂
About 20 years ago. <3 What are you addicted to besides blogging? 😮
Chocolate, although that hardly seems my fault, it’s so delicious. 😉
Reading, but again, the books call to me. 😉
But neither of these are bad habits, only addicting. I laid my soul bare by talking about my awful 25-year smoking habit. 😀 😀
The chocolate one is bad as it leads to weight problems and the book one can be bad if you read walking down stairs or on a road…just very specific examples that I may or not not have done. 😉
My worst habits are procrastination and avoidance, especially of conflict…I have very few vices left, sadly. 😉
Yes, procrastination and I are old friends. 🙂
It just keeps hanging around…but I’ll get around to getting rid of it…someday. 😉
Give it the boot as hard as you can, but still stand vigilant. Persistent little Bu**er.
They’re tough, but I haven’t been called more stubborn than a goat for no reason. 😉
Sigh. I Do know what you mean.
“Resistance is the devil’s playground?” That doesn’t sound right, but 😀 I love the sound of it. We’re still talking about Mr. Procrastination, I think. 😀 😀
He’s a tricky fellow who rears hiss ugly head in too many ways. 🙂
Whack. Whack. Whack. ^^’
Be gone Procrastination.
He’s back…
Have you tried holy water? 👿
Definitely not. 🙂
Now, I’m out of idea. {Consternation}
That’s ok, thank you so much for trying to help, Tess…I’m moving forward with sheer stubbornness, sometimes it’s the only thing that works. 🙂
Isn’t that the truth! 😀 <3
🙂
Persistence? Insistence? Resistance?? Aaahhhhh.
I hope something will help. 😉
How about some chocolate? 😀
Pusher! I can say no, I can stop anytime I want…ok, give me the chocolate. 😉
😀 😛 ^^’
Good luck breaking your habit, Donna. I have succeeded several times in my life, thankfully, and not fallen back into the same old, same old. However, I do find that I am susceptible to picking up ANOTHER habit to replace the broken habit. WordPress. WordPress. WordPress. I don’t think I have any dangerous habits at this very moment. WordPress.
I feel like you’re trying to tell me something, but I don’t know what it is… 😉
Yes, moving toward something is better than just moving away from something. 🙂
I still can’t figure out what your other habit is. 😉
I read recently that the best way to change a habit it to identify yourself with the good habit.
EXAMPLE: I’m the kind of person who makes getting enough sleep a priority” instead of “I’m going to get more sleep.
The trick is that we tend to do things that we feel are aligned with who we are so changing who we see ourselves as helps to cement new habits. The other trick that was mentioned was to only make sustainable habit changes. Making small but sustainable changes and sticking to them until they’re hardwired lets us perform them by rote instead of constant battle.
The short answers is I’m just like you. That’s why I read so much about habits. 🙂
Yes, I spent too long trying to getting rid of or move away from habits, when I should have been moving to and finding new, better habits. I’ll go with better late than never. 😉
Thank you for dropping by and sharing your insight, Anita. 🙂
Hope this week is good to you. 🙂
My entire life is lived in reverse, it seems :/
In reverse your entire life has been lived? 😉
I think we’re habitual creatures, so perhaps one remedy is to replace a habit with another one that’s better for us. Initially we’ll miss the old habit, but in time we’ll get addicted to the newer and hopefully healthier one.
You’re right and very hopeful. 😉
Thank you kindly for dropping by, hope your week is everything you want it to be. 🙂
Too funny! I think I do all of the above 🙂
You’re not alone. 🙂
Hope this week is good to you. 🙂
Sorry to hear about your leg. Ugh. According to my husband it is impossible for me to change any of my numerous dastardly habits.
It’s feeling better now, luckily the ‘bear trap’ didn’t leave a mark. 😉
Numerous and dastardly habits…hmm, sounds like you need your own reality show. 😉
I find it hard to believe, but… 😉
Hope this week is good to you, Jan, dastardly numerous habits and all. 🙂
Tomorrow is my D-day for quitting smoking AGAIN! I like your idea of moving towards something new and better – brilliant motivation for me. Thank you!
I’m glad it helped and I really hope it goes well for you. 🙂
All the best, always. 🙂
I say do a crossover film between the The Lord of the Rings and the Die Hard franchises. Call it Old Hobbits Die Hard! 🙂
That works, I had my Gollum moment in Phase 3. I’d love to see Bruce Willis taking down a Wraith or an Orc, but only if you can write the screenplay. 🙂
Deal!
Why are you on here? Get to work! Remember, it has to be epic! 😉
Old Hobbits Die Hard—sounds like a script to be made, if not watching the newer LotR films says anything…
There is no “Ha” element. Ha Ha.
Periodically, I think they should change the periodic table, become more inclusive. 😉
I don’t have time to list all mine… 😉 .”Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of.” -Anonymous
Yes, like a big, warm, cozy bed, those habits are tricky. 😉
You mean I can quit my bad habits? :O)
You can try. 😉
Well I’ll attempt it then. :O)
The best of luck. 😉
My bad habits have grown on me – lol, seems like I have a friend for life!
lol Well, it’s hard to give up friendships…even ones that aren’t good for us. I understand. 🙂
I am always working to improve myself! Lots of little habits here and there! I made it a goal to be a “yes man” and get out of my house and out of my rut, and I have, and it’s awesome. I hated my habit of comparing myself to others, and so I’ve worked so very, very hard on that one… and it’s paying off! And, it’s been well over a year since I quit the habit of smoking. Can I get a Hallelujah!
but seriously, the only thing that worked was learning how to forgive myself and not let one backslide become my new life, that it was okay if I reverted, I would just try, try again.
Fall seven times, get up eight!
Hallelujah!!! That’s awesome, Kate! 🙂
We’re all a work in progress, but the fact that we’re moving forward and trying has got to be worth something. 😉
Yes, we have relapse at times, but you’re so right, get back up again. 🙂
Thanks Kate and I’m giving you another Hallelujah!!! All the best! Big hugs, Donna xo
You are the most awesome of awesome Donna!! 🙂 Thank you!!!
Takes one to know one. 😉
TV is the worst bad habit for me. I’ve tried quitting but it just comes back. Like smoking.
You keep trying to get away but they keep pulling you back in. I don’t even try anymore. 😉
I’m gonna give up soon too T_T It’s just so good.. The Walking Dead is calling for meee, and Game of Thrones starts tomorrow!
It’s in my blood, I’ve cut back, but there’s always something else. Just as one thing ends, another begins. GOT will be cool, but I’ll miss The Dead – are you going to watch Fear The Walking Dead, the prequel?
Idk, I think its gonna lose originality a bit…
They’ve done a great job with the spin-off and prequel books, so I think I’ll watch it…sigh, no Daryl though. 😉
Hmm, I might try then, but no Daryl bums me out a lot lol
I know, but I assume the new cast will have some down’n’dirty survivalists too. 😉
Old habits die their hair. 🙂
lol 😉
I guess you just have to face them…
I’m looking them in the eye, but they’re not going down without a fight. 😉
They never do!
🙂
I’m sure I have plenty of bad habits. Fortunately I choose to live alone, so they don’t bother anyone. Not even my nightly “Ode de Vicks” — i’m in the habit of breathing, and I don’t think i could without my Vicks. LOL. God, i’m such a granny! I don’t care. I embrace my inner old lady! 😀 Mega hugs my friend.
Breathing is actually a wonderful habit that you should never give up, if at all possible. 😉
Most of my habits I can live with, but some, have to go. Begone bad habits! Away! 😉
Have a lovely ‘Ode To Vicks’ (now I’m humming ‘Ode to Joy’ and in my head I’m changing the lyrics to be Vicks-related). I know it’s wrong, but it sounds (and smells) right. 😉
All the best, Teagan, hope this week is being good to you. 🙂
I have a tough time quitting bad habits. I’m good at implementing good habits but when I continue the bad I at best break even. Good luck with your quest. I wish I had more helpful advice. If you get some good advice in your comments please share.
I understand completely and thanks for wishing me luck…if there is such a thing, I’ll need it. 🙂
Just received my recruitment materials today!
Well, do what you have to do. 😉
I wanted to be John McClain or even Bruce Willis for that matter, Upon refection though, I’ve changed my mind. It could become habit forming. So I have to regretfully withdraw my application to the Die Hard Academy at this time, otherwise I’ll be committed to more sequels. :O)
Yes, because they’re never going to stop…pretty soon they’ll just have a hologram of Bruce Willis. 😉
LOL You might be right.
Only a matter of time. 😉