Why Bad Habits Often Win Over Good Habits!

Why is it that bad habits often win over good habits?

Have you ever struggled with getting rid of a bad habit? You just been doing it for so long that it became part of your identity? For example. People who smoke will identify themselves as a smoker, or people who are over weight say “I’m fat”. Same is true when it comes to identifying yourself with good habits. For example: People who run say “I’m a runner” or People who write say “I’m a writer”. Well those bad or good habits didn’t just happened over night. It’s a series of decisions that accumulated over time that form a good or bad habit then forms into an identity.

I remember when I decided to run my first half marathon about 8 years ago. I was just starting to eat healthy and getting rid of bad habits that didn’t serve my health and my wellbeing. My friend suggested I try running a half marathon. Well at that time I thought to myself “running a half marathon is not for someone like me, I’m not an athlete!” That’s because at the time I had identified myself being unworthy of great things because I was consumed with my old bad habits. Little did I know that if I’d work on creating good habits, I can run a half marathon and become a runner, become an athlete.

The only reason bad habits often win over good habits is because they often grant instant gratifications. Back in the day before my journey towards health and wellness I had multiple bad habits! I drank more than I should because it felt good in that moment. I’d smoke weed almost every night because it was fun until It wasn’t fun anymore when suffered from a panic attack. I loved eating deserts and junk food because it tasted good! All those things released dopamine that made me feel good in that moment, the only thing is it came at a cost of being unhealthy and suffered from ongoing anxiety. Once I realized it’s by creating good habits that it would make me healthy and happy naturally, I didn't need the instant gratifications as much because I knew I’d receive it naturally long term. Along the way, those good habits formed a new identity where I felt more confident, strong, healthy and worthy!

You see, it’s not so much about the goal that you’re after it’s about the steps it takes to get there that shape who you are and acting in alignment with who you want to become. Once you’re in alignment with who you want to become, you’re not really pursuing behaviour change anymore, it just becomes part of who you are. With that being said, it’s going to feel like new territory at the beginning where you’ll probably feel out of place. For example; Going to the gym for the first time, you feel lost and intimated until you show up everyday and it then becomes your new norm.

Since we thrive on instant gratification, I suggest rewarding yourself with small things when you’re trying to implement good habits, especially at the beginning. When we attach a reward to our new habits, it encourages us to keep going. For example: After a week of eating healthy, treat yourself to a piece of chocolate, a hot bubble bath,or watching Netflix for an hour, guilt free, whatever that looks like for you. Do this enough times and you’ll be on your way to a healthier and happier you!

Hope this serves, If you feel like anyone would benefit from this message, feel free to spread the love by sharing this blog post!

Thanks for your ongoing support

Until next time, Keep Progressing On Your Own Journey Towards Health & Wellness

Nancy Pitre, Certified Holistic Health Coach