The Best Way to Stop a Bad Habit

No one is perfect.  We all develop habits that may not neccessarily be the best for us.  This typically happens over time and eventually those bad habits can affect our lives and businesses.  

But, the good news is you change things.  You can choose to move away from these bad habits and put yourself on an even better path.  

Several years ago, I interview Tom Ziglar, Zig Ziglar's son and now the CEO of Ziglar Training.  We got into a great discussion about habits in our lives and how they impact us.  I asked him, "What is the best way to stop a bad habit?"  He paused and then said, "The best way to stop a bad habit is to replace it with a good one."  I loved the simplicity of that answer and it makes complete sense.  All you have to do is start developing a good habit and stop doing the bad one and the good one will eventually take its place.  

Now, sometimes that is easier said than done because, as they say, "Old habits die hard."  But, they can die.  And creating a new better habit is the first and best step to replacing them.  It doesn't mean you won't have to work at it or will not fall prey to the old bad habit, but if you can incrementally get better and increase the new good habit in your life, eventually the old one will fade away.

Imagine if just for one year, you picked bad habits in your life and replaced them with a good ones.  Where would you be 1 year from now?  How would your life change?  How much more successful could you be? 

Try it.  Start today.  Choose the habit you want to replace and choose the new habit you want to replace it with.  You'll be amazed where you are even a week from now.