Reason to SMILE #366: KICKING A HABIT

I’ve heard that it only takes 7 days to form a habit – good or bad. I’m not sure if that’s true.

Since everyone is different, I tend to believe it may take months for some people to form a habit while it may only take days for others.

Then there’s kicking a habit.

Forming habits is so much easier than kicking them!

To get rid of those nasty habits we form, it takes

TIME,

determination,

WILL POWER,

fortitude,

COURAGE,

accountability

and

MORAL & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

Geesh!

Why do we begin those nasty habits in the first place?!?

Whatever the reason, I think at some point, we all find ourselves faced with the challenge of kicking one habit or another.

My old college friend, David, is working on kicking his smoking habit. In fact, he just announced his 2-week non-smoking streak to the world (well, Facebook world, I suppose). His excitement over his triumph and my excitement for him was the inspiration for this SMILE.

I also have another friend (Really, I do! 😉 ) who is struggling to beat an alcohol addiction.

Even I am working on squashing my soda habit. Today is day #12 of my soda abstinence! Yay me!

Three different habits. Three (most likely more) different reasons the habits were formed. Three different people. Therefore, the process for ridding ourselves of these bad habits, addictions or emotional crutches will be just as different. But one thing is certain, we will each be faced with hurdles to jump, temptations to avoid and set backs to overcome.

So, how do we do it? How do we make it to the finish line? How do we successfully beat those nasty habits?

You have to find what works for you but whatever it is, don’t do it alone. Let someone be your rock, your accountability partner and your listening ear.

The words of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 are true: “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

And remember to take it one DAY at a time –

No. More like one MOMENT at a time.

Each moment that you make the better choice, each temptation that you successfully thwart and each time you pick yourself up after a set back is cause to celebrate. These are the moments that should make you SMILE because these moments bring you one step closer to, as my friend David would say, kickin’ that habit to the curb!

 

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A Year of Smiles – Day 90

Reason to SMILE #90: LITTLE GETAWAYS

We all have our routines. We wake at a certain time, eat particular foods for breakfast, get ready for the day in a certain way, drive to school or work on a strategically chosen route, navigate the work day in our own special way, clock out at generally the same time, drive home, eat dinner, do chores/homework/projects, ready kids and ourselves for bed, go through our bedtime rituals and go to sleep only to wake up the next morning and do it all over again. We get in a groove and our lives begin to run smoothly so we think we can handle a few new tasks each day. The routine is shaken a bit but we find our groove soon enough. Then life decides we need a few hurdles to jump or mountains to conquer. “Routines, shmoutine!” life says and our days begin to feel less and less fulfilling.  Time runs from us. Chaos invades what once was a peaceful, secure existence and we find ourselves spinning out of control, slamming doors, throwing tantrums and wishing you could smash your co-workers phone to stop the silly game noises from ruining your concentration. (That last one might just be me. 🙂 )

It’s times like these that call for a break.  Sometimes to get your SMILE back, you have to remove yourself from the equation – even if it’s only for a short while.  You could take a trip to the beach, go for a walk in the park, spend a night out of town, go on a coffee date with a friend or just take a few minutes out of the room. But don’t put it off. And remember, it is okay to take a break. You are allowed.

Little getaways – they do a body good and help a soul to SMILE!!

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