#2 - Habits

The most effective way to change your life for the better is to trade your bad habits for good ones, one-by-one.

If the weeds of your mind were like (picture, left) this it wouldn't be so bad to let em' grow

Nobody in his right mind cultivates bad habits consciously. Not unlike weeds in a garden, they just creep up out of nowhere, and if not pulled, or left unaddressed, have a way of growing wild, out-of-control, and essentially taking over. One day you just realize that you're doing something, or a multitude of somethings, that is robbing you of your vitality and serving you in a negative way. Strangely, it's much "easier" and more common to "happen" on bad habits than good ones. Good habits take forethought and nurturing generally. Good self discipline is rewarded by the universe and no self-discipline, is, thus punished. That's why it's important to conciously choose your habits. If you let them choose you, it's inevitable you'll find yourself on autopilot and subject to your urges and less-than-ideal nature.

However, a good can be made to be as automatic as a bad habit and you can use that natural automation to your advantage. In fact, it's amazing how when good habits gradually replace bad ones, your life takes on a subtle momentum and your old, non-supportive behaviors are crowded out by healthier, more self-fulfilling ones. Just remember, good habits must be pursued, the bad ones just appear, like the weeds. Pull the weeds and add the fertilizer of knowledge, self-improvement and growth towards your goals.