Good Habits are as Addictive as Bad Habits

Habit: an acquired behavior pattern, regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary!

What habits do you have that might affect how others see you? Biting your fingernails (Oh, how well I remember that awful one when I was a kid)? Cursing? Running your fingers through your hair? Interrupting conversations so you can speak? Being a constant complainer? Saying “Like” all the time – “I was like so happy; I like ran to the store”. Talking with your mouth filled with food? Nervously tapping your fingers?

HABITS are almost like being on “Auto Pilot”. Once we hit “auto pilot” — we just move through life without really considering how our HABITS might affect our lives and how others see us. Those are our involuntary habits.

There are so many “good to great” HABITS that were formed in our lives that consistently, and repetitiously, make us BETTER people. For example, remember teaching your children to “Watch both ways before you cross the street”? Think about how WE were taught to look both ways before crossing the street. It served us well to this day. And it will for our children, forever, too! Encouraging them to say “Thank you!” and “Yes, Ma’am or Yes, Sir”. Those are involuntary habits – that we’ve “habitually” driven home to them for so long and now, we are so proud of our apprentices. They have good manners. They are kind to others. They are generous and they express gratitude consistently.

And, there are so many positive habits we have that bring about the best in ourselves and others. Speaking “I love you!” “I appreciate you!” “Way to go!” “You are amazing!” And, those of us who are radical believers in the favors and special blessings that come directly from God……we just naturally and habitually say, “Praise the Lord.” “Thanks be to God.” “God is so good!”

For those of us who are in the middle of some “life” storms and are facing major challenges and circumstances that seem out of control — we just naturally and habitually say, “Praise the Lord — He’s working all this out for my good. This is no surprise to Him. I thank you, God, IN all these things!” Great, involuntary HABITS that serve us well in good times…..and tough times.

It’s true: Good HABITS are as addictive as bad HABITS — but, oh, so much more rewarding.

Proverbs 4:20-27 “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.”