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Two Reasons Why It So Easy To Do The Wrong Thing

Pizza Boxes There are

Two Reasons Why It Is So Easy To Do The Wrong Thing:

Habit - it takes 21 days to ingrain a new habit into your behavior
Desire - you must want the new behavior, deep down in your soul. Very much want the change

People that don't consider these two are apt to fail.

When you are NOT doing these two things you will do the wrong thing and not do what you should be doing.

It is just the way the world works either with improving our business, going on a diet, enhancing a relationship. The 21 days gives you the solid grounding of the new way of thinking. The strong desire to get the end result will not let you deviate off plan past the 21 days. A smoker has to want to stop smoking. A drinker has to want to stop drinking. If you want to be organized you have to really want to see that clean desk when you arrive in the morning.

In work and your personal life, apply habit and strong desire to your goals, and you will get there. It's almost like I have given you the secret formula to make it work!!

Posted by Gary Woltal - Associate Broker REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth on 10/18/2009 09:35 PM

Comments (33)

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33 Comments on Two Reasons Why It So Easy To Do The Wrong Thing

OCT

Thank you! I hope that 21 days will be the start of a new GOOD habit.

Gary, I cannot tell you how many people over the years I have told this 21 days to a new habit story to, and they look at me like I am from Mars. It is a proven fact, and I learned it many years ago. I have used it dozens of times. Thanks for letting me know I'm NOT from Mars. lol

LOL-Does this work for YOUR desk?.

If you want to be organized you have to really want to see that clean desk when you arrive in the morning.

I am trying to change a couple of habits. I know I have to be mindful of the change so that I don't engage in the undesired behavior. It is a challenge.

I don't believe in willpower, but I do believe in habit. If we structure our lives to make the right choice easy and the wrong choice hard, we tend to make the right choices. For example, I love sweets, but I don't keep them in the house. Every night I get a craving for sweets. If they were in the cupboard, I'd eat them. If I have to change, get the car, and leave the comfort of my home to buy some, I'm too lazy to do it. In another example, I'm in the habit of going for a walk each day. I've been walking the same route for the past 30 years. I don't particularly like to exercise, but I don't think of it as exercise, it's part of my life and if I can't go for a walk because of the weather or a busy schedule, then I miss it.

Hi Gary, It's almost like I have given you the secret formula to make it work!! You did give the secret formula. I might start one of these " new habits" .

Exactly. We make our habits and then our habits make us. 21 days will probably pass anyway, might as well put them to good use!

21 Days is great... a time to let the positive behavior incubate and grow into a regular part of life. I find the biggest struggle with routine exercise...

Habit works. A few years ago I got up every morning at 5:30 am. and walked 12 times around the nearby school track (REALLY!) I did that for five weeks and that got the habit engrained in me. Now, that I work for myself, I can walk a bit later, but I still walk most mornings 3 miles.

OK OK! We will do it! No more excuse left now is it? I'd like to see a list of those that have done the 21 day habit forming planner.... just to give some of us a little more motivation! Thank you Gary!

OCT

Gary,

Dang! I did the wrong thing this weekend, but it tasted SO good! LOL

Mike in Tucson

GOOD MORNING GARY! Well - this explains why I can't kick the chocolate habit! -- Gabrielle

GARY- Your are right, you have to WANT to change, break a bad habit or form a new good habit. The 21 day idea is not a new one, but it does work, repetition works.

Gary.. This is so true. The 21 days is the easiest part.. it is the desire to continue that is sometimes hard.. especially when you are on a diet.

valerie osterhoudt

21 days . . . . . doesn't sound like very long or very hard to to do - but, I'm sure we all realize it just "ain't" that easy!

I certainly have a few things that need to go on the "21 day plan"! :-)

Mike

Gary.. I will agree that we are creatures of habit, that in order to break out of this, it takes a special desire, willingness, and a special focus.... people can argue will power and so much more. In regards to the 21 days thing... I have never heard of this. Is it a special book that someone wrote? Sorry if this sounds clueless.. ;o)

jeff belonger

I am not ashamed to admit that I dropped 30 pounds since summer. Those pizzas can add up the pounds pretty quickly. I did it the sensible way: more exercise, less food. You've just got to make these things a priority and then they become a reality.

I agree with Elizabeth, the 21 days works but it must be a priority...hence the desire. Will I desire to get out into the freezing rain and snow to walk the walk? Let's hope so!!!!

Gary: 21 days feels like an eternity for me when I am trying on a new diet program, or exercise regimen...but that's because that desire is not really there. When it is, the 21 days is not even anything I have to count.

thanks for the life secrets you always supply us with here in the Rain Gary! Now let's see if this will work on my inbox!

Gary: Right you are!

I actually have an application on my iPhone called "Touch Goal" that helps me with my behavior changes. I also use affirmations for the same reason. It is a journey, to say the least, but one well worth taking...

Thank you for the reminder. This is now featured on the Optimist Group.

But Gary... 21 days is a long time. :-) It takes dedication and focus to change that habits around, but well worth it in the end... depending on the habit.

I stopped by for my weekly inspiration from Gary and here he does it again. I will be spending part of each of the next 21 days ingraining new good habits.

Hi Gary, I agree that you must really want the change in your life for it to become ingrained and effective.

Nice delivery Gary! :-) Your consistent sharing of inspiration, kindness, laughter and love, here in your posts, is an excellent illustration of a really good habit---and we all get the benefit! (that pizza looks really yummy)

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the secret..21 days..I got it! I stopped for my daily dose of inspiration and I did get it..21 days huh?

Hi Gary... this must be why, when I diet, I have to be very strict with myself for the first month.... if I am not, it simply does not become habit.

OCT

21 days can sometime seem like a lifetime - I need motivation to get me through it! Thanks for sharing - very good post!

Gary,

You are so right. When I taught Math and Science in the school system, we were taught that it takes doing something right 7 times to learn it, but if a child learns to do it the wrong way, it takes 21 times of doing it to unlearn the old way and relearn the right way.

Gary...21 days to start a new habit and one day to fall off the wagon.

OCT

Gary, if there's one thing that I have practiced religiously, it is being a nightowl. Nobody awake but me at this time of night. No errands to distract me from what I set out to do before morning. No sane person calling me on the phone--for anything. Knowing I will sleep like a baby when I hit the bed.

Hi Gary:

Both personal and business...

It's hard work.

Can we have some pizza now?

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