“Change might not be fast and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped.” – Charles Duhigg
Have you ever caught yourself using a word, yet you were unsure how to be that word in your life?
When you commit to a task, do you ever stop considering the behaviors and habits needed to achieve your mission?
To understand the power of the words is to become intentional about what you choose to commit to or speak into existence. I have used words and committed to actions without taking the time to assess what would be required to give life to my commitment.
In this session, I sat down with Stress Prevention Strategist Fozia Murtaza to discuss why we often use words with little consideration to the behaviors or actions necessary to make the words come alive. Get ready to learn why you may not honor your word or commit to the actions needed to create success.
Habits are our automatic ways of being.
The foundation of our everyday life, habits define our character, our thoughts and feelings. Your habits can either empower or disempower you. They either move you towards or away from your goals. Consider that your habits may be undermining your ability to achieve and succeed.
How do we interrupt and eventually replace unwanted behavior?
Let’s begin with the understanding that our emotional reaction to something is a habit, and our emotional patterns have likely been with us since childhood. Over time, these reactions become a baseline for responding to everything that happens in your life. The key to interrupting this default reaction is to notice, then assume responsibility. This awareness and taking responsibility allow you to reclaim your power and understand that you choose your response.
I believe habits are neither good, bad, correct, or wrong- it is simply a way of being that has consequences. The truth is, good or bad reinforces our need to permanently eliminate or erase the habit, which is highly unlikely. It also creates the negative emotions that often derail us from our goals, dreams and commitments. The real question is whether you are okay with the consequences. If not, understand, you have the power to choose a different behavior.
Create a Mental Representation
We shift habits by creating a mental representation of the words we use.
A mental representation is to create a clear picture of the behavior required to give a habit life. Words have power. The image a word evokes impacts our belief, drives our behavior, and ultimately creates our world. Their power arises from our emotional responses to the images created when we read, speak, or hear them.
To be trusted leaders, our words and actions must be congruent. Let’s look at the steps needed to honor our word and commitments.
#1- What outcome do I desire? Create a mental representation of the outcome you desire. Make a list of the behaviors and tasks required to create this new habit. (I want to work out three days each week. List the task and actions needed.)
#2- Who am I required to be or become to honor that commitment?
An easy way to do this is to watch and study someone who is already doing what you desire. The mental representation is to model what that person is doing. What are their habits and behaviors?
#3- Be patient and focus on one day at a time.
Give up the all-or-nothing mentality. Incremental daily steps form lasting habits. Learning new habits is a journey of faith, growth and learning. Success will become available when you are willing to surrender to the journey and condition yourself to honor the word you made for yourself.
We become known for what we habitually do and that in turn shapes how we show up in the world, the life we design and the character we are known for. The choice is always yours. Take the Mindset Mastery Mini-Course to evaluate and reflect on your habits.