 |
| Don't just stop what you're doing, replace it with something better. |
"Well, son, DON'T do that!"
Funny joke, but incomplete when trying to apply it in life. It is not sufficient nor beneficial to simply stop an undesired behavior (nor likely to be successful if it's a deeply entrenched habit)... you must replace your actions with something else that can fill the void.
A self-made sage is wise enough to identify an action that needs to be stopped and then go the next step in seeking and finding a suitable replacement. Many people falsely assume they can just stop bad habits and rely soley on will power. While this may be possible in rare cases, it is extremely difficult and often leads to failure. You can use a better strategy by creating a positive diversion... to intentionally replace undesireable actions with positive ones.
Although it may be difficult to admit to others, inside you probably know what personal behaviors are holding you back. Perhaps you waste too much time in front of the television, or do too much online shopping, or continually procrastinate work on an assignment.
The next time you catch yourself doing something you know, deep down, is holding you back from success, pause and ask yourself, "What could I be doing instead?" Find an activity that you can take action on immediately and focus all your attention on it. This diversion technique will not only help you stop the undesired behavior you were doing, but also get you moving back down a successful path.
It is time to take control of your life, and this simple technique will enable you to maintain that control. You're in the driver's seat... you just need to switch lanes once in awhile.
No comments:
Post a Comment