Everyone has bad habits. Though, it's interesting that bad habits occur much more commonly when in social situations. Nothing new there, but it's definitely still interesting, nonetheless. For example, take people that continuously date people that are not what they want. Why does this happen? I read in Blink by Malcolm Gladwell about a study that analyzed speed-dating groups. Both men and women were asked to write a list of ten things that they would want in an ideal partner. Most people had the same things: Generosity, Kindness, Humor, Attraction, Loyalty, etc. However, when the session began, the dates that got the highest ratings were the people that they felt most connected with. Even if they had none of the qualities aforementioned. When those relationships were followed up, almost all of them fell apart within a year. Why? Because that person really isn't what they wanted. The lustful attraction was confused with a genuine connection. If this keeps repeating and you know better, it's a bad habit.
Other bad habits that are worse in groups can of course be: smoking, drinking, procrastination, negativity, laziness, etc. If getting rid of bad habits is important enough, then eliminate the social bad habits and see what's left. It's a little tough to separate yourself at first from the social time where your bad habits may take place, but it works much more effectively than trying to resist temptation. It eliminates the choice.
I'm beginning to think that all those small things that we do have a larger negative effect than we might think. The truth is, if there any feelings that seem unbearable, at any time, that should be a sign that a time-out is desperately needed. By that time, it's pretty bad, even though it doesn't seem like it because instead of checking those feelings we opt for distraction. That distraction becomes bad habits. Bad habits tend to stay with us longer than the feelings, but can continue to create new unchecked feelings. For example, drinking is a depressant. You could go out three times a week socially and drink and think that there's no problem. But because that alcohol can affect your mind for up to two weeks, it could begin a steady depression that leaves you subtlely forgetting what you used to feel like. In which case, you wouldn't think there was even a problem. You honestly wouldn't know.
I'm curious. What is life like without any bad habits? What activites, what thoughts, what moods. I want to keep my mind in check. I want to keep my thoughts in check. I've found that it's much easier to do this quietly. More alone time, less talking and less distractions. Then slowly, everything seems to slow down and eventually stop. In a good way. In an eternal moment sort of way. There's nothing to wait for. The only place you need to be is where you are. It's so agreeable. And when it's like this, bad habits have a really hard time going unnoticed and excuses become completely pointless.
