ABC’s of Life – Q for Quitting

Quitting a Bad Habit: Proven Steps to Break Free for Good

The A.B.C.’s of S.U.P. Blog Seek Understanding and Peace (S.U.P.) is an incredible resource, providing the words necessary to propel personal growth, inspire motivation, and offer unwavering encouragement. Today, we delve into the transformative topic of “Quitting a Bad Habit: Proven Steps to Break Free for Good.” Prepare to embark on a journey of self-liberation and discover the path to lasting change.

Discover captivating stories, invaluable resources, and expert tips on your peace journey. Immerse yourself in a wealth of inspiring ideas to cultivate tranquility in your life. Let’s embrace each day and pave the way to lasting peace, one step at a time!

Not knowing which direction to go

with when I picked the word quitting. My mind, as usual, turned toward how this applies to me, and the first thing I remembered quitting was the violin lessons in school. I did about two school years of lessons and did not want to do it anymore.

I was in elementary school, and I remembered thinking this was getting too hard, and I did not want to put forth the effort anymore. So, I told my mother, and she asked, “Are you sure? I remembered saying yes, and before I knew it, I was no longer taking violin lessons.   

Embracing the power of perseverance: Regretting my decision to give up. Oh, how I regret the day I decided to abandon my pursuit! The weight of missed opportunities hangs heavy on my heart, as I reflect on the choices sometimes.

“Why did I quit?” This question inspired me to write “Quitting a Bad Habit: Proven Steps to Break Free for Good”. Within those pages, I lay bare the secrets to conquering those habits that hold us back. Continue reading to help unleash our true potential, as we banish regret and embrace a brighter, more fulfilling future.

I wished I would have stuck it out. That would have been something nice to see. Oh well.

But I decided to go in another direction when it comes to quitting, which is quitting something you know is not good for your mind, body, and soul. Hence

Quitting a Bad Habit: Proven Steps to Break Free for Good was created.

Here is a long list of things we can do to ourselves in excess if we are not self-aware.

31 Bad Habit Examples: A List of Habits to Break in 2023 (developgoodhabits.com)

• Watching or playing too much of anything: T.V., phone, games, social media –
• Poor Eating Habits
• Poor Spending Habits
• Alcohol Abuse
• Gossiping
• Smoking

These were the obvious – what about the ones we do behind closed doors? Only you or a few people in your life know about this.

• How about emotional eating?
• Not Getting Enough Sleep
• Not Exercising
• Being late
• Procrastination
• Shopaholic

I decided to stop at twelve things –I could have gone on. But the point I am making is that we probably all have some things we do that we must stop doing or do in moderation.

I Looked at this list to see how it applies to me, and found I need to stop, cut back, or start several things on this list.

1. Not Getting Enough Sleep
2. Purchasing too many journals
3. Unhealthy eating

That is my list – I had to make it personal to me. And that is what I would like you to do now. Write down at least three things you must quit doing or do in moderation. It is more accurate for me if I see it on paper or in print.

Even as I was typing my list up, I was cringing because it confirmed it, at least for me, when I saw it written down. I have to deal with it; you know, I have to address the elephant in the room, so to speak.

Now, I am looking at the list again to see if there is something on it that I had an issue with in the past and since have been able to overcome. Yes, there are a few; however, I will share one item on the list with you – and the process I went through to quit.

Watching Too Much Television

Oh yes, this one was a biggie for me, especially when my husband installed Stream T.V.; I had access to my favorite shows like Andy Griffith, Judge Judy, The Carol Burnett Show, Columbo, Twilight Zone, and Sanford and Son. I was like a kid in a candy store. Oh my gosh, it was like the world opened up at my fingertips, and it was.

“Quitting a Bad Habit: Proven Steps to Break Free for Good” is what I needed right here because then the British shows captured my attention!

And I enjoyed many British shows here were just a few: Mr. Bean, Fawlty Towers, Father Ted, Are You Being Served, and The I.T. Crowd. I must stop talking about shows before I stop typing and start watching television to the excess again (fall of the wagon). I am just kidding, and I find more joy in writing for you than excessive TV watching. And I forgot that I once enjoyed playing games on my phone and computer.

One of the things I did to kick my excessive television watching was I asked myself these questions.

1. Can you go one day without watching your shows? The answer then was NO.
2. I then started weeding some shows out,
3. I learned how to record some of my shows so that I could watch them at scheduled times when I was ready.
4. And I allowed myself a certain number of hours to watch my shows daily. Instead of the 5-6 hours, I went to 2 hours, and now I watch under 1 hour daily.
5. The critical thing was that I could not sit and play with my hands while waiting to watch television. I had to replace those hours with something positive; it was my schooling initially, and once I graduated, it was reading and writing, which was my first love anyway. Now, I barely watch television. And when I do, I enjoy it. I needed to control my watching habits because I did not want these television shows to continue to control me.

1 Corinthians 10:13 The Message

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you overcome it. Amen

The article “How to (Try to) Quit (Almost) Anything by Shonda Land

I read some excellent tips that I would like to share.

Humanize your Habits –

accept that you cannot watch just one show, you cannot just purchase one journal, or you cannot just take one drink and be okay. Once you realize that, you will understand your limits and start to do something about them.

Understanding what a trigger is and how that may affect your excessiveness in some areas of your life may help.

Positive and negative triggers are defined as provoking, setting off, or sparking. That makes sense; for example, I am minding my business in the store, I am in the fresh food section, and then I turn a corner and find myself in the school supply and journal aisle. Now, how did that happen?

All I need to do is avoid that section until my journal supply at home dwindles. Then, I can allow myself to purchase 1 or 2, which cannot cost over a certain amount. Then, I will not have those triggers because I am telling myself that at some point, I can purchase them again, just in moderation.

If it is alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs, your rules will be different; you should completely replace those habits with positive ones that will help you in the long run.

Substitute one feel-good behavior for another.

In other words, replace the bad habit with a good habit.

If you are trying to quit smoking, go to support groups and talk to people who have been through the same thing. See what works for them and see if you can incorporate some ideas into your routine. To replace smoking itself, you could take up a hobby and learn about your favorite dish; the point is not to replace smoking with another bad habit. Make it productive.

Prioritize pleasure!

The key here is to choose a positive pleasure to help you get through. Plenty of things can give us pleasure – we want to keep it on the positive and legal side. Lighting up a cigarette may feel good, but its damaging effect on your body cannot be undone.

And yes, that 8^th chocolate chip cookie may sound good, but overindulging in sugary snacks can wreak havoc on your system and waistline.

Seek out positive pleasure when replacing a negative pleasure.

Set attainable goals!

Set goals that you can accomplish gradually. If you want to swim five laps and have not swum for years, take it one lap at a time until you reach your goal. Baby sets – do not set yourself up to fail, which brings me to their last point –

Don’t beat yourself up.

You may have to start over again and again. That’s okay; keep starting over and readjust when needed until you reach your goal. Refer to this post! 

Replace Bad Habits with Good Habits | Practical Psychology (practicalpie.com)

The suggestions from this article state that if you quit bad/negative behavior,

replace it with a positive, similar one.

For example, instead of smoking, you can eat Twizzlers. I knew this gentleman who always used to have a cinnamon toothpick in his mouth to replace his smoking habit. It seemed to be working for him.

Accountability and Support:

Share your goal of breaking the habit with someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or support group. Having someone to hold you accountable can greatly increase your chance of success. They can offer encouragement, provide guidance, and celebrate your progress.

Mindfulness and Awareness:

Practice being mindful and aware of your actions, thoughts, and emotions. Please pay attention to the moments when you engage in a bad habit and try to understand what triggers it. By cultivating self-awareness, you can interrupt the automatic response and choose a healthier alternative.

Set Clear Goals:

Define specific and achievable goals for breaking the habit. For example, if you want to reduce your soda intake, set a goal to only drink soda twice a week instead of every day. Breaking down the habit into smaller, manageable steps can make staying motivated and tracking your progress easier.

Replace with Healthy Alternatives: Identify healthier alternatives to replace bad habits. For instance, to reduce stress eating, find stress-relieving activities such as walking, practicing yoga, or reading a book. Or you could learn how to make smoothies and juice or use an air fryer to cut down on the oil in your eating.  

By filling the void left by the bad habit with positive alternatives, you will reinforce new, healthier patterns.

Visualize Success:

Visualize yourself successfully breaking the habit and imagine how it will positively impact your life. Use positive affirmations and visualize the benefits you will experience, such as improved health, increased productivity, or more substantial relationships.

This can help reinforce your motivation and keep you focused on your goal. If smoking is something you are quitting, you could imagine yourself not tied to a cigarette, your breathing is deeper and better, hair and clothes smell better.

Celebrate Milestones:

Celebrate small victories along the way to breaking the habit. Recognize and reward yourself for achieving milestones, such as going a week without engaging in the habit or successfully resisting temptation in a challenging situation. Celebrating your progress will boost your confidence and reinforce your commitment to breaking the habit for good.

Remember, breaking a habit takes time and effort. Be patient, and don’t get discouraged if you slip up occasionally. Each day is a new opportunity to progress toward a healthier and happier life.

Unleash your inner self grab your journal and proudly jot down the three essential actions you have gotten from “Quitting a Bad Habits: Proven Steps to Break Free for Good”!

you must take the time to eliminate the obstacles and embrace success.

We Will Develop Our List for Our S.U.P. Journal– So You Can Refer Back to It When You Need Some Ideas. Add what you want to quit this week, start small, and take baby steps. And remember to refer to –

“Quitting a Bad Habit: Proven Steps to Break Free for Good”

 

Be Open to Trying Some New Things. Sometimes, It May Not Be an Action You Add to Your S.U.P. Journal but A Scripture, Thought, Or Inspiration.

Next Week, We Will Discuss A Word That Begins with The Letter R That Can Help Us on Our Journey to Peace.

Subscribe for some weekly wisdom!

As always, thank you for being here with me on this day – today. See you next week!

GRACE AND PEACE