Week 52: Habit - Watch your Habits; they become your Destiny

“The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” (Samuel Johnson)

“Changing bad habits isn’t a matter of taking back control yourself but of giving up control to God.” (Richard Angelus)

I read a story about an old teacher who once taking a walk through a forest with his student by his side. He suddenly stopped and pointed to four plants close at hand. The first was just beginning to peep above the ground, the second had rooted itself pretty well into the earth, and the third was a small shrub, while the fourth was a full-sized tree.

The teacher said to his student, “Pull up the first.”

The boy easily pulled it up with his fingers.

“Now pull up the second.”

The boy obeyed, but found the task not so easy.

“And now the third.”

The boy had to put forth all his strength and was obligated to use both arms to uproot it.

“And now,” said the teacher, “try your hand on the fourth.”

But the truck of the tall tree, grasped in the arms of his student, hardly shook it leaves.

“This, my son, is just what happens with our bad habits. When they are young, we can cast them out more readily with the help of God; but when they are old, it is hard to uproot them, though we pray and struggle ever so sincerely.”*

What a lesson! Do you have bad habits that you want to get rid of but over time it’s getting harder and harder for you to do so? Just like the story above, yours could be in the stage of third or fourth trees. Are you addicted to gambling, computer games, smoking, glue (I hope not), chocolate (Yes, you read it right!), drugs, alcohol, excessive food intake, pornography, masturbation, gossiping, etc.? Have you notice how it entered into your daily cycle? Samuel Johnson observed, “Habits are too light to be noticed till they are too heavy to be broken.”

Most of the bad habits (not all) are building up over a long period that is why the best way to stop a bad habit is never to begin it. Once you notice (if possible) that you’re acting or behave toward bad habit; stop it! Drop it! Let it go! I had many bad habits before, too shameful to mention here but let me share with you on how I break the habit of smoking.

1.     Firstly, I must convinced (not just realize) that smoking is a bad habit. Common sense? Yes, but it’s really helpful. Sometime we love to make excuses that obviously silly just to get by a “one-final-time” famous line.

2.     Secondly, I decided to break the habit. This is not the ‘I want to’ or ‘I should’ statement; this is ‘I must’ statement. I decide to do it, whatever it takes, cross the bridge and burn it! I must stop smoking!

3.     Thirdly, I listed out all the positives effects if I stop smoking and negative consequences if I continue to do so. Most of the time we’re lazy to writes it down but until you put it on paper you will not be able to think more clearly.

4.      Fourthly, I linked the ‘I must’ statement with the positive effects. Example, “I must stop smoking because by doing so I’ll have a healthier body, I can save more money, and God will be glorified through my testimony.”

5.     Next, I tell few people who can really support me; give me encouragement, pray for me and never fail to ask me, “How are you doing?”

6.     Stop or spend less time with smokers. I remember during my process to get rid of my old wicked habits; my ‘friends’ avoid me, I was accused of being ‘weird’ etc. I don’t let it discourage me; instead I used it as a cheer to carry on with this noble desire.

7.     Replace the empty void with positive habits. I started to read books, exercise, draw cartoons and learn how to cook.

8.     Finally, I surrendered my bad habit to God. Sometime I would feel that my bad habits are controlling me, but by His Mercy and by trusting in Him, God gives me access to His transforming power.

Whatever your bad habits are, remember that there’s nothing impossible for you to overcome it. When you ask for God’s help through prayer and seek support of other believers, God breaks the chain that holds you and sets you free from the control of bad habits. Just don’t procrastinate to get rid of your bad habits and replace it with new positives one. Make decision now… think you can and trust God in it.

“Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch you words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; they become your destiny.”

(Frank Outlaw)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP. 

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 Recommend reading:

1) Helpful guide (click the title to read) How to Change A Habit in 21 Days