| We have all got bad habits that we would like | | | | but the incentive was never there. Her |
| to quit. Some might be more noticeable than | | | | boyfriends wish for them to enjoy themselves |
| others and some, like overeating, might be | | | | provided that incentive. Bad habits that are |
| life threatening. Whichever way you look at | | | | well entrenched are always going to be |
| it, bad habits, no matter how big or small | | | | difficult to quit, but it's amazing what |
| are darned hard to quit. Bad habits are a | | | | results people can achieve when something |
| multi-million dollar industry. Just think | | | | triggers the incentive. Years ago I knew a |
| about how much money is spent on quit smoking | | | | woman aged thirty who had bitten her nails |
| or weight loss programs. Next time you go | | | | all her life. One day she saw me apply |
| shopping take a look at the products | | | | cuticle cream to my nails. I had just got |
| available to help you quit biting your nails, | | | | engaged and was wearing a diamond ring, so |
| and you will see what I mean. If breaking bad | | | | was giving my nails extra care. She had also |
| habits was easy the industry wouldn't exist. | | | | become engaged but was embarrassed about her |
| Well-meaning friends are always quick to | | | | nails which were bitten to the quick. She |
| offer advice; I mean how hard can it be? You | | | | purchased some cream, applied it every day |
| are overweight, just eat less. Problem | | | | and set a goal to have long nails by her |
| solved. The truth is, you don't need to be | | | | wedding day. She could have stopped biting |
| told why the habit is bad for you. You know | | | | her nails at any time, but it was the wedding |
| all the reasons why you should give up your | | | | that became the incentive. Reason's are not |
| bad habit, so all the well-meaning advice | | | | incentives; reasons why a habit is bad for |
| goes straight over your head. It would be | | | | you is not going to make you quit. Find an |
| much more helpful if people were more | | | | incentive and you will stand a chance. Of |
| positive about the advice they gave. It is | | | | course this doesn't mean you should carry on |
| more important to know about the positive, up | | | | with a bad habit until an incentive presents |
| side of stopping the bad habit. Thinking | | | | itself. You should always be trying to give |
| about good results is more likely to trigger | | | | up, especially if the habit is damaging your |
| an incentive to quit. If knowing the reasons | | | | health or well-being. Once you've decided to |
| why a habit is bad for you, or the advantages | | | | quit your bad habit avoid telling friends and |
| of giving it up were all that was needed, you | | | | family. Especially if you've tried giving up |
| would have given up the habit long ago. What | | | | before and failed. If you do feel the need to |
| is needed is the will power to make it | | | | share, make sure it is someone supportive, |
| happen, but how do you get that? Incentive is | | | | you don't need others to gloat if you slip |
| what you need and I don't mean that you could | | | | up. Take a good look at your situation and |
| save money if you gave up smoking, that is | | | | work out a strategy for dealing with it. |
| just another up side to giving up the habit. | | | | Smokers for instance say smoking gives them |
| What I mead is something new, some angle that | | | | something to do with their hands; by keeping |
| has not occurred to you before, a moment when | | | | their hands busy they can lessen the need to |
| the light goes on. It is often surprising | | | | light up so often. Everyone deals with bad |
| what triggers the incentive to quit. Here is | | | | habits differently; as far as solutions go |
| an interesting example. I have just read a | | | | one size does not fit all. Finding an |
| story about a young woman who put on so much | | | | incentive that will work for you is the key |
| weight she was virtually a recluse. At a size | | | | to correcting bad habits Remember, you're |
| 26 she was clinically obese ,and age 20 | | | | always too young to start a bad habit and |
| unable to enjoy life. The incentive came when | | | | never too old to give it up. |
| her boyfriend told her that he was sick of | | | | |
| leading half a life. He didn't worry about | | | | Having recovered from breast cancer, Trish |
| her weight, he just wanted them to get out | | | | turned her attention to the health and |
| and enjoy life. That was the trigger. She | | | | wellness industry. Trish became a Life Coach |
| loved him and wanted him to be happy, so she | | | | and specializes in the wellness and lifestyle |
| started a serious weight loss program. Of | | | | fields. Her web site at is full of useful |
| course she wanted to lose weight for herself, | | | | advice and tips on how to improve your life. |