Posted in Blogs, Canada, Chocolate, Family, Food, Parenting, Uncategorized, Weight

Old Habits Die Harder

Posted on by D. Parker

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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.1habits2

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

    1habits3

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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.1habits4

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?

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Yippee Ki-Yay,
dear readers!

Author:

Very me

88 thoughts on “Old Habits Die Harder”

  1. 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.

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    2. 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.

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      1. 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. 🙂

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  3. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

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      4. 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. 😉

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      9. 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. 😀 😀

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      16. 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. 🙂

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  4. 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.

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    1. 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. 😉

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  5. 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. 🙂

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    1. 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. 🙂

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  7. 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.

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    1. 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. 🙂

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  16. 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!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. 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

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      2. 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?

        Liked by 1 person

  20. 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.

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    1. 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. 🙂

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  21. 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.

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  23. 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)

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