The truth behind successfully breaking a bad habit
Bad habits are tough to break because they are hardwired into our brains. They are negative actions in disguise as comfort and relief, typically at the expense of our health.
Nick Pags, a coach, motivator, and the creator of Bad Habits on NEOU says he has the formula for turning those negative actions into positive ones — and it all happens over the course of four stages: awareness, desire, breakthrough, and integration.
According to Nick, you first need to be openly aware of the fact that you have a bad habit. Next, have the desire or willingness to create a shift in your life. From there comes what he likes to call the breakthrough stage. “This is where the actual work comes in,” he says. This refers to the actual lifestyle alterations and changes to your daily life, he explains. Finally, is the integration stage. “Once you’ve made a change, it’ll go away if you don’t practice it and repeat it, and repeat it, and repeat it,” he urges.
What separates a disappointing failure from a triumphant success? According to Nick, winners have four very distinct characteristics:
Successful people hold themselves accountable.
While Nick is a coach that works with people face-to-face or digitally through a screen, he says he takes very little responsibility for people's growth and change. “It's all them in making a decision to do it and do the work,” he says. “I ask them the questions that allow them to be introspective for their own answers, then I simply give them the tools they need,” he explains. Nick considers himself a “vessel” to help people succeed, but ultimately, it’s up to them to execute.
Successful people know what they want.
“Failure is really when you no longer have that desire to change,” Nick says. The minute that desire is gone it is all over. People that are successful understand that in order to make positive changes happen they need to be all in and fully committed.
Successful people honor their word.
“There’s one thing in life that can’t be taken from us, and that’s our word,” says Nick. Anything and everything else in life can be taken away, but making a promise with yourself cannot, he explains. “You always have that. You always have your word.”
Successful people are patient.
“Change never comes instantly overnight, and the process can be long and challenging,” Nick says. According to him, those that are successful with a transformation have a respect for the process. “If you don’t have the desired results you want yet, that’s because they're not supposed to be yours yet,” he says. “The time comes for you to be ready to have them, but you must be patient.”
Don’t forget to tune in to Bad Habits every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7AM ET on NEOU.
