A habit is a habit if done everyday

Hello folks. Been away for long time but had to return. "Old habits die hard" as most of them say.

Speaking of which, how do we define a 'HABIT'. When I looked up to the definition in wordweb dictionary I got this, "an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition".

We all tend to have good intentions of "not doing" or "doing" certain tasks every day or every moment but end up repeating the same the next day. Only to feel sad about how sticking to our promises that we made to ourselves is a failed attempt every time.

Don't you remember the promises that you made to yourself and broke them in the next second. Well, let me remind some of them:

• I'll quit alcohol/cigarette.
• I'll stop/limit having junk food.
• I'll stop wasting time on facebook/twitter and do something important instead.
• I'll start reading books.
• And finally, the one most common promise which everyone had broke in the recent past. I'll take care of my health.

Now you remember these promises. Don't you!! Well you can lie to me but not yourself :). Well the point that I am making here is you are not alone. As we lead life day by day we often indulge into bad habits. Not that we had planned for it or created a determined intention to do it. 

Bad habits are something which are easily doable. It grows in you as you had felt no additional physical or emotional stress in doing it. These are as easy as doing involuntary actions. On the other side, good habits are difficult to put into action. It requires determined, emotionally strong mind to stick to. These are actions that we force our mind to do with will.

Going back to the definition of habit which I specified at the beginning of this post, to put in other words, if an action is done repeatedly it becomes part of our routine in day to day life. And it will be called a 'HABIT'.

To inculcate a new 'good' habit we need to build only three attributes. Motivation, First-step and Repetition. Let me explain these three attributes. For example, take the last failed promise regarding taking care of our health. It is very easy to spoil our health considering the so called modern lifestyle we lead where everything else around us is latest and hi-tech except our body. But make sure you don't see a day where a technology (medical) keeps you alive while you are just lying motionless on hospital bed.

So what is 'Motivation' - the first attribute. Its something which makes you feel GO. There are many ways and places from where you can draw motivation. When it comes to keeping good health some of them are below:

• Visit a hospital. You will only see sad faces lying on beds. Who wants to be in this situation.
• Check out the amount of money a patient spends.
• Have an athlete/celebrity pic as your desktop wallpaper. A David Beckham. A Brad Pitt. A Angelina Jolie.
• Feel your tummy.
• Or Just stand naked before a mirror. LOL. I am sure you just want to put on those new jogging shoes that you bought ages ago and start running.

Motivation is there everywhere, you just have to see it and feel it. Once you found the motivation the next is to give an action to it. The action is called 'First-step' - the second attribute. All you require to start the work-out is to put on those shoes and take the first step out of your door. That is it. There is no looking backwards. Taking the first step is always the most difficult. So fight it out and take that first step forward.

Does that feel good. Well it should. But don't you want to feel this way every day. Oh yes you do. This gives way to 'Repetition' - the third attribute. A habit is not complete without this attribute. We have to stick to what we have learnt and put into action in repetition. Repeat this action for 30 days and notice that these attributes has grown on you. And it has now become your HABIT.

Hope these few words have given you motivation to create a new habit in you which you have been procrastinating for quite long. I wish you a healthy and stress less life ahead.