{"id":288,"date":"2007-12-04T22:08:00","date_gmt":"2007-12-04T22:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lessonsfromarecoveringdoormat\/2007\/12\/creating-better-habits-challenge.html"},"modified":"2007-12-04T22:08:00","modified_gmt":"2007-12-04T22:08:00","slug":"creating-better-habits-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lessonsfromarecoveringdoormat\/2007\/12\/creating-better-habits-challenge.html","title":{"rendered":"Creating Better Habits Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>
I consider most of what keeps us from being as self-empowered as possible\u2014bad habits.<\/span> Many develop while growing up but can happen any time you do something over and over until it becomes automatic. When I decided to stop being a DoorMat, I worked on breaking the habits that hurt my self-image. Breaking habits feels more manageable than a psychological makeover. It can be applied to ANY area of your life, work or play.
Aristotle said, \u201cWe are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.\u201d<\/span> You CAN create better habits in ALL arenas of your life! And use them to achieve excellence!<\/p>\n

Break one habit at a time. I broke those that reinforced seeing myself in a poor light and treating myself worse than I did others. Once you begin to break habits that aren\u2019t for your good, you can then create new, healthier ones. I used to think being a DoorMat was my destiny. It felt hopeless. Striving to become someone I wasn\u2019t seemed too daunting\u2014until I began to identify my DoorMat habits, one at a time. That allowed me to break them! <\/p>\n

Seeing what I did to reinforce my DoorMat lifestyle<\/span>\u2014saying \u201cyes\u201d automatically, attacking myself with nasty words for my faults, expecting people to dump on me, ignoring my needs\u2014as bad habits gave me hope that I could do something about it.<\/span> And I did!<\/p>\n

When I saw my behavior as bad habits, instead of faults or an indelible part of me, I slowly paid more attention to my actions and thoughts. Patience was tough but I tried hard, since I was tired of feeling lousy about myself. At first, I just observed my habits. Eventually I stopped myself before doing or thinking things that always seemed automatic. I continue to maintain a heightened awareness of how I treat myself. But my good habits have now solidly replaced those that were harmful to my sense of self and well-being. <\/p>\n

I even created habits of doing specific things to keep my apartment neater<\/span>, which made me feel more in control. That broke my slob-a-holic ones!<\/p>\n

I catch myself fast when I think negatively or allow poor treatment. It feels great to let go of old habits.<\/span> Now I\u2019m in the habit of being good to myself and other helpful routine activities. For example, after reminding myself over and over to hit save after every few sentences when I\u2019m writing, I don\u2019t even think about doing it anymore. It\u2019s become a habit that protects my writing!<\/p>\n

John Dryden said, “We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.”<\/span> Navigate your habits so they make you a better person.<\/p>\n

Begin by raising your self-awareness. You don\u2019t have to change behavior yet. Pay attention for now. Don\u2019t rush to break lifetime habits. It took me years to get where I am. Start by becoming aware of how you\u2019re in the habit of thinking of yourself in various situations and what behavior you\u2019re so used to doing that it\u2019s become a habit.<\/span> Identifying habits helps you develop better ones, which increases your self-empowerment!<\/p>\n

THE CHALLENGE<\/span>
The Creating Better Habits Challenge<\/span> is to identify behavior that can be replaced by a better habit. Since I consider almost all behavior a habit, it can be related to anything that can make a positive difference in your life<\/span>\u2014a new habit for thinking about specific situations, responding to things that bother you, how to say \u201cno,\u201d letting go of clutter, improving health or fitness, losing weight, dealing with a parent, coping with loss, having better relationships, becoming better at a skill, having a better blog. The topics can be about anything. <\/p>\n

The Creating Better Habits Challenge<\/span> is open to anyone who wants to participate. I posted mine–\u201cI\u2019m Not an Idiot, I\u2019m Silly\u201d<\/a><\/span>\u2014if you want to see an example. Here are some guidelines.<\/p>\n

1. Write a blog post about how to break a habit and replace it with one\u2014big or small\u2014that can lead to improvement in some aspect of life. <\/p>\n

2. Please include that the post is a part of the Creating Better Habits Challenge and include a link and\/or trackback to this post so readers know more about it. <\/p>\n

3. At the end of your post, tag fellow bloggers and email to let them know they\u2019ve been tagged.<\/p>\n

4. Include a link and\/or trackback to the blogger who tagged you.<\/p>\n

5. Please send me the title and link to your post when it\u2019s up and I\u2019ll list them below. <\/p>\n

6. Check out other people\u2019s posts and comment, Stumble, Digg, etc. any that you enjoy. It\u2019s a great habit to support others and brings back many rewards!

I TAG these bloggers:<\/span><\/p>\n

Carol<\/span> at<\/span> Toxic Burden<\/a><\/span>
Lorraine at Powerfull Living<\/a><\/span>
Chris at soupornuts.com<\/a><\/span>
Rebecca at Modite<\/a><\/span>
Gamy at Mind Think Success<\/a><\/span>
Priscilla at Personal Development Demands Success<\/a><\/span>
Peter at I will change your life . com<\/a><\/span>
Tina at Think Simple Now<\/a><\/span>
Bob at every every minute<\/a><\/a><\/span>
Fitbuff<\/a><\/a><\/span>
Joy at Mamapalooza<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to those who\u2019ve participated:<\/span><\/p>\n

Gamy at Mind Think Success<\/a><\/span> posted Loving Yourself Is A Good Habit To Start<\/a><\/span>
Carol<\/span> at Toxic Burden<\/a><\/span> posted Creating Better Habits<\/a><\/span>
Chris at soupornuts.com<\/a><\/span> posted The potential of creating better habits<\/a>
<\/span> Tristan<\/span> at Synergy Institute<\/a><\/span> posted Step Away From the Whopper!!<\/a><\/span>
Lorraine at Powerfull Living<\/a> posted Turning Negative Habits Into Empowering Actions<\/a>
<\/span>Brad at juiceofchampions.com<\/a><\/span> posted The missing link to success!<\/a><\/span>
Stephen at Adversity University Blog<\/a><\/span> posted Unleash Pure, Raw Spiritual Power by Changing a Habit<\/a><\/span>
Ellen<\/span> at Positive Communication<\/a><\/span> posted Trying To Be More Compassionate<\/a><\/span>
Lola Fayemi<\/span> at Real World Spiritual and Personal Development<\/a><\/span> posted Overhauling old limiting habits to transformational success-attracting habits<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

If you enjoyed my post, please leave a comment and\/or click on the bookmark and write a short review at some of the sites, especially Stumbleupon. Thanks!

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