Beginning a Habit

Starting a new habit sounds easy and can be, if it includes a quart of ice cream a day or sleeping late.  Okay, beginning healthy habits are often disastrous because they are short lived and often involve a lot of discomfort.  Being healthy generally involved denying yourself something you normally have every day or doing something that you rarely do which kills any motivation to change.

Do you remember in the past, trying the latest diet or buying a gym membership?  Sometimes we depend upon our own strength to begin new a habit, without thought and prayer.  Other times, we believe in will power and a new book to bring about change.  Often, we try to conquer a bad habit in a few weeks, which is like patching a water pipe leak with duck tape.  Our attempts and solutions are often temporary or have minimal results.

For those who have found success, beginning a new habit is a process of making small changes.  No matter how much we want to eat different foods or pay money to get fit, change rarely occurs unless there are two ingredients involve.  The first is confidence and the second is motivation. As the Solomon writes in the book of Proverbs, “My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment … for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared”, (Proverbs 3:20 & 26).

Taking responsibility for your health through discernment of small, attainable steps enables a person to build confidence.  Receiving support from others and grasping the importance of your results (like lowering blood pressure, increased energy level, etc) can build one’s motivation to building the healthy habit.

The truth behind healthy habits is the belief each one is built over time with the intention of being a life long habit.  Often, the development of each habit is based upon very small steps and monitoring your results.  Some find writing down their weekly steps and results help build their success (like charts or pictures on the refrigerator), others find working with a group of like minded people help completion of each step towards healthy habits.

Whatever your course or desired goal, be sure to consult your primary care physician and get the support of those important to you.  Seeking a spiritual basis for each step, along with spiritual disciplines in accordance with God’s Word will build a deeper confidence in God and motivation in building healthy habits.