Can Bad Habits Be Broken?

A habit is a thought or behavior patterns hard-wired in our brains that we can perform tasks and activities without conscious intention. Neuroscientific research has proven the brain to be plastic and able to change, so why are habits such as eating too much or smoking so hard to break?

The answer may be due to the fact that the brain may be lazy and prefers shortcuts by wiring thoughts, emotions and behaviors deep into the subconscious mind allowing your brain to work on autopilot and free up personal energy.

This serves us well when it comes to healthy daily routines such as brushing our teeth, washing our hands, and taking a daily walk or any exercise routine. While most of our habits such as taking the same route to work or running our kids to sporting events, bad habits such as snacking on junk food, drinking excessively, or becoming a worry wart can cause us misery and despair.

Good or bad habits all are activated by "triggers" such as a cue, event or memory. They become hard-wired with repetition and then become automatic and persistent which is neuroplasticity in action.

For example, when we engage in negative self-talk such as repeatedly saying we are useless and never good enough, the connections between neurons become strengthened and wired together. That thought then becomes stored in our limbic system or emotional brain which has more energy and dominance unless we consciously change our behavior.

Once we become aware of what triggers our bad habits, we can then begin to reprogram our minds to make healthier life choices.  Through brain training such as meditation, hypnosis, guided mental imagery and visualization, we create new neuropathways that overshadow the old mental circuitry to give us a fresh start and new beginning.

Mind makeover retreats, Winning at the Inner Game of Success, are running now through May, 2016. 

Edie Raether is a brain trainer, change strategist and bestselling author.  Visit www.braintrainer.expert or email edie@raether.com.