How to Change Your Mind

Do you ever find yourself standing at the refrigerator when you're not hungry? Have you ever reached for the one food in your cupboard that is guaranteed to be bad for you?It's not just you. We all do it. These are "bad" habits-and habits, by definition, are the things we are so used to that they become our default even when we know better. Instead of using the word "bad," however, let's call them "unhealthy"-it's much more accurate and less judgmental.Whether it's not sleeping, lack of exercise, poor food choices, or overindulgence in alcohol-we know these things are not healthy for us. Why do we persist-and just as importantly, how can we stop?The trick to getting rid of unhealthy habits is to stop justifying our poor choices and rewrite the script so we default to where we want to be. Although positive and affirmative self-talk is powerful, I am not going to whitewash today's message with unhelpful clichés-which are about as useful as saying "just relax" to someone having a panic attack. Thus, "Just think positively," or "Flex your willpower muscle" are not on my list of steps towards change. Instead, let's dive into a really juicy, habit-changing discussion.Breaking bad habits takes time and effort, but mostly it takes perseverance. Most people who end up breaking bad habits try and fail multiple times before they make it work. You might not have success right away, but that doesn't mean you can't have it at all.If you want more practical ideas for how to build new habits (and break bad habits), check out this book, which will show you how small changes in habits can lead to remarkable results.