How to Overcome Habits? Know Thyself.

 

I have always loved to play video games. When I was in my 20's I played computer games when you had to type in the words. I know this dates me. If you have ever seen the movie "Big" with Tom Hanks you know what I am talking about. He is playing a game on his outdated computer at the beginning of the movie. 

I recently purchased a Nintendo Switch and immediately purchased the latest version of my all time favorite game, Pikmin. Being a bit on the obsessive side, I played the game every chance I got, until I had beat it. Then I proceeded to conquer all the mini games. I was so sad when I finished the last one. When I found myself playing the game at 2AM to try and get a perfect score, I knew I had reached an all time low. I had lured myself into thinking it wasn't that bad, because after all, I only played for 10-20 minutes at a time. I added up how many times I had sat and played the game that day and it floored me. I wanted my time back. Does this sound familiar. It's no different than calories or dollars that add up when we waste them in little bits over long periods of time. I turned the game off and gave the game system to my grandchildren to enjoy. I have enough to overcome in my life without adding another habit to kick.

It did get me to thinking. What if like the game I learned to change my environment to help accomplish my goals. We all know some of these tricks; not having tempting foods in the house, keeping  your credit cards in the freezer, or placing your running shoes by your bed. The problem comes when you are so use to stepping over the shoes that this becomes the new normal.

What makes me put the shoes on?

It has to be more work to not put the shoes on and work out, than to step over the shoes and live with another day of feeling defeated? I am certainly not going to drive 20 minutes every hour to play Pikmin at my daughters house. How embarrassing would that be? and there is the key!

Addiction thrives in secrecy and dies in good company.

Changing our environment is a great first step. A great second step is to force myself to live in transparency with others. Now when I say others, I don't mean people that say what you want to hear and make you feel better about not moving forward. I mean people who love you and are willing to say things that are hard to hear. Those are the golden few. 

Proverbs 27:6

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses

My prayer for you today is that you will find those that will live in transparency with you and help you to create habits that bring victory to your day!

Hope Wirta