Habits are patterns of thought and behavior that are repeated regularly. They include habitual ways of thinking, acting, reacting, speaking, and doing. What begins as a conscious choice can, through repetition, become habits.
Conscious thoughts produce actions and reactions which repeated frequently enough, become ingrained as attitudes which produce habits of behavior automatically, without a conscious thought.
Conscious thoughts produce actions and reactions. Repeated actions and reactions become habits. When habits are practiced long enough, they become ingrained as attitudes that begin to influence behavior automatically, often without a conscious thought.
They are observable and measurable and easy for others to see, but perhaps not as observable and measurable for you to see.
Habits are usually easy for others to observe because they are expressed through behavior. Ironically, they are often harder for us to recognize in ourselves because we perform them so automatically.
There are good habits and bad habits. One has benefits and the other has consequences.
There are good habits and bad habits. Good habits produce benefits and positive outcomes. Bad habits produce consequences and undesirable results.
Habits are not yet “attitudes.” Let only good habits of thought and actions become become repeated frequently enough to become ingrained as attitudes. Catch the bad habits before they become “bad” attitudes and eliminate them.
Habits are not yet attitudes. Attitudes are habits that have become deeply ingrained through repetition. Therefore, cultivate good habits of thought and behavior until they become positive attitudes. Catch bad habits early, before they become entrenched attitudes, and replace them with better ones.
Watch your thoughts because they become actions. Watch your actions because they become habits. Watch your habits because they become attitudes. Watch your attitudes because they shape and define your character. Watch your character because it reveals your identity, influences the roles you play in life, and ultimately determine the quality of life you live.
Notable Thoughts About Habits
“Your habits (and attitudes), whether good or bad, will ultimately determine your quality of life.” – Dennis Waitley (emphasis added)
“Your habits and attitudes, whether good or bad, will ultimately determine your quality of life.” – Dennis Waitley (adapted)
“To change a bad habit make a conscious decision, then act out the new behavior.” – Maxwell Maltz (Note: Stop thinking about the bad behavior and take physical action with the new behavior)
“To change a bad habit, make a conscious decision and then immediately begin acting out the new behavior.” – Maxwell Maltz
Stop focusing on the bad habit. Focus on repeatedly practicing the new behavior you want until it becomes your new habit.
“Habits repeated frequently enough become ingrained as attitudes (both good and bad) which automatically trigger actions and reactions, without a conscious thought.” RAC
“Habits repeated frequently enough become ingrained as attitudes—both good and bad—which then trigger actions and reactions automatically, often without conscious thought.” – RAC
Commit this rule to memory:
Rule #4 – Through repetition your thoughts, actions and reactions become habits.
Notes in progress:
But habits run on thoughts
While habits aren’t thoughts themselves, they are triggered and sustained by thinking patterns.
Think of it like this:
- Thoughts = the wiring
- Habits = the current flowing through it
Conscious thoughts form habits of actions and reactions and repeated frequently enough, become ingrained as attitudes which produce habits of behavior on auto-pilot, with a conscious thought.
You can change behavior first, but lasting change happens when thought patterns are addressed too.
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