Habits are an essential part of our daily lives. They help shape our behaviors, attitudes and, ultimately, our decisions. The habits we develop can help us achieve our goals or become an obstacle to reaching our full potential. In fact, studies show that up to 40% of our daily actions are based on habits. Therefore, developing positive habits is crucial for our personal and professional growth.
We can think of habits as building blocks that shape our character and mold us into the people we want to become. They are small pieces that, in the long run, can make a difference as they contribute to creating solid foundations for our lives.
Quotes about good habits and their formation
1. “Habit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do)” – Stephen R. Covey
The writer of the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” knew very well what he was talking about. Although habits are normally reduced to a mere sequence of actions, they are actually based on motivation. Without desire, it is difficult for us to break a habit, even if we know exactly what to do or how to do it.
2. “Motivation is what gets you started. Habits is what keep you going” – Jim Ryun
This athlete warns us that, before a habit is formed and established, so that it guides our behavior without having to decide what we will do at each step, we must make an effort. When we consider forming a new habit, motivation is an ingredient that cannot be missing, at least during the first weeks. Otherwise, the chances of throwing in the towel halfway are high.
3. “An unfortunate thing about this world is that the good habits are much easier to give up than the bad ones” – Somerset Maugham
This phrase about good habits reminds us how difficult it is to maintain them. What we consider bad habits, such as smoking or lying on the couch when we should be at the gym, often go in a “preferred lane” because they do not demand a great expenditure of energy, they drag us and many times even generate pleasure, so that it is difficult to resist its influence.
4. “It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them” – Benjamin Franklin
Because our brain is a great energy saver, it is important that we put the patch on before the leak occurs. Breaking bad habits costs more than avoiding them because once the reward loop is activated, it is difficult to get out of that loop. We must keep this in mind every time we make a decision.
5. “Your little choices become habits that affect the most important decisions you make in life” – Elizabeth George
With this phrase about habits, this writer emphasizes the importance of being aware of the decisions we make, even the smallest and most everyday ones, because in the long run they will end up having an impact on our lives, tipping the balance in one direction or another. She nips in the bud everything that can become a bad habit before it is established.
Quotes to understand how to change habits
6. “And once you understand that habits can change, you have the freedom and responsibility to remake them” – Charles Duhigg
Many people are not aware that they can evolve. They live clinging to the idea: “I am like this, I can’t change.” However, the truth is that no one was born like this, in one way or another, we have all become the person we are today. And that means that we also have the potential to change what harms us, the possibility of replacing a bad habit with a better and healthier one.
7. “A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit” – Erasmus
Habits take up time, so when we want to eliminate them, they usually leave a void in our daily routine. The cigarette after coffee or using the cell phone before going to bed fills a space, so if we want to get rid of them, the best option is to develop another healthy habit that can fill that empty space and does not generate the temptation to return to bad habits.
8. “You can’t break a bad habit by throwing it out the window. You’ve got to walk it slowly down the stairs” – Mark Twain
Except for some people with incredible willpower and determination, it is difficult to break a habit overnight. The writer, who also confessed with humor: “Giving up smoking is easy. I ‘ve done it hundreds of times ”, reminds us that sometimes the road is difficult and long. And that we must convince ourselves every day not to relapse.
9. “Change might not be fast and it isn’t always easy. But with time and effort, almost any habit can be reshaped” – Charles Duhigg
This Pulitzer winner and writer of “The Power of Habit” refers to the need to prepare ourselves for the path we must take and make sure we have the right tools: perseverance and willpower. It is necessary to understand that some bad habits are very difficult to eliminate and we have to prepare ourselves to face possible relapses without giving up our efforts.
10. “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most” – Abraham Lincoln
Discipline and determination are key to forming good habits. Lincoln explained that a person capable of achieving his goals is one who puts his long-term goals before the momentary satisfaction of his impulses. In fact, to a society accustomed to having everything immediately, this phrase about habits fits like a glove.
Phrases to reflect on the impact of habits on life and society
11. “The diminutive chains of habit are seldom felt until they are too strong to be broken” – Samuel Johnson
This 18th century poet reminds us of the power that habits have over us and their influence, often subtle but incessant, on our lives. Habits are like the drop that sculpts the rock, so it is important to stay attentive to all those seemingly inconsequential actions because it is likely that when we become aware of their impact, it will be too late.
12. “Everything you are used to, once done long enough, starts to seem natural, even though it might not be” – Julien Smith
This writer reminds us that habits, even the most negative ones, can become so common that we don’t even question them. In fact, its power lies precisely in the fact that we are often not fully aware of its impact. Therefore, from time to time we should review our customs from a detached perspective to objectively assess their relevance.
13. “Some rules are nothing but old habits that people are afraid to change” – Therese Fowler
Habits are not only established on a personal level, they can also be social customs that are passed from one generation to the next. In fact, some rules established in the popular imagination are nothing more than old habits that we do not dare to change. For this reason, it is advisable to always value the usefulness and meaning of some traditions.
14. “We get into the habit of living before acquiring the habit of thinking” – Albert Camus
Habits are, to a large extent, “more or less automatic reflections of the stimuli in our environment,” as G. Stanley Hall said. That is one of the main reasons why bad habits are established: they are more of a response to what happens than a reasoned decision.
15. “The best kind of happiness is a habit you’re passionate about” – Shannon L. Alder
Good habits, even if they are repetitive, are not something we can underestimate. In fact, it can be a source of everyday happiness and a reason to feel grateful. Just think about the satisfaction that morning coffee or relaxing music before going to sleep can give us. Therefore, develop habits that make you feel good and generate happiness.
Finally, it is worth remembering this profound thought from Lao Tzu, which can show us the way: “Take care of your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; Take care of your actions, they become your habits; take care of your habits, they become your character; Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
