21 Days To Form A Habit - You Can Do It

Research has proven that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Habits are an essenti
al part of our life, without them we would fail in most things we try to accompl
ish. They help us to reach specific goals, stay focused along the way and keep o
n pushing when the going gets touch. At the same time, non-supportive habits can
keep us from moving forward or even hurt our well-being. As Dr. Andrew Weil sa
ys, anything you do with repetition and emotion will become your reality. If you r
e not satisfied with your current experience, examine your habits.
Athletes know too well how important it is to stick to habits, especially in tra
ining. But most people struggle with their day to day practice of habits and if
you are one of them fear no more. You too can change your bad habits into a good
one, just take 21 days and you will be well on your way to become a changed per
son.
Whether you want to practice personal journaling or learn how to play the violin
doesn t matter. Even to change negative habits into positive ones takes time. The
problem for most people is that they actually try to attack their issues with t
oo much fervour in the beginning and then give up if they don t see instant result
s.
I can t recount how many times I have tried to lose weight in the past. The proble
m though was in me simply trying and not doing. It s kind of a wishful thinking ph
enomena where we wish for the best but fail in the actual doing part of the whol
e situation. Please feel free to use the suggestions below to help you get on tr
ack and use the next 21 days to form a new habit.
The 21 day habit practice
First of all, you will need to be clear on your intentions. Do you really want t
o play the violin? or was this wish merely conceived when your best friend showe
d you their instrument.
Once you are absolute certain you want to follow through with this, here is what
you do. First write down your intentions. It is important you use positive affi
rmations to write these goals.
It helps if you can identify your why. Why do you want to play the violin, lose
weight, run a marathon, etc. The bigger your conviction, the easier it will be b
e for you to make the transition.
Create diversions to help you stay on track. If there is a specific weakness you
battle that stops you from progressing and practicing every day, try to find wa
ys to distract you from the negativity. It will help to keep you on track. Total
honesty with yourself goes a long way here.
Celebrate each step, regardless how tiny it is. You need all the help you can ge
t to keep motivated. It also helps to enlist the support of friends or family me
mbers. People who can motivate you to keep on going.
Stay clear of negative people. There will be those who try to sabotage you. This
doesn t even have to be intentional. It could evolve from a negative statement ai
med at you, or even a deep rooted belief you had since you can remember. Any tri
gger that could bring this out should be avoided.
Use the following tools to help you on your 21 day mission
Positive affirmations are a great tool to keep you mentally stimulated. Practice
them daily by saying I am thankful for having lasted another day . Before long, th
e 21 days are over and your new habit is cast in stone - or close to.
You can also use the power of gratitude quotes or pictures to keep you visually
empowered. Stick them on your fridge, in your office, next to your bed, in the l
oo or wherever you will be reminded that it only takes 21 days to form a habit.