Uphill Hopes and Downhill Habits

Here’s a life lesson most of us will relate to. Consider the following dialog. 

"I hate being late," my friend lamented. "It has been a problem for me all my life." "Do you want to change that?" I asked. "Yes, I do," was the response. "All right, every time you are late to work or anywhere else where you have committed to be at a particular time, you must give me twenty-five dollars."

"No way!" my friend responded. "I would go broke! But I will give you ten dollars." "All right, ten dollars it is. But it has to be a large enough amount of money to hurt your pocketbook." "Believe me, that will hurt," my friend said. For him not to resent me for the money he had to give me, we put his money in a jar to give to a good cause. This ensured my motive was in his best interest. 

About a month later, my friend had become motivated to be on time. What happened? The first week, I received ten dollars from my friend. The following week, I received twenty dollars. In the third week, I received nothing. By the fifth week, my friend had changed his life-long destructive habit. 

I guarantee you that was the cheapest thirty dollars that guy ever spent. For the first time, he had a plan and a partner to help change behavior that impeded his relationships and productivity at work. Accountability works if the person is for you and has your best interests in mind. 

What is the principle at work here? John Maxwell says, “Most people have uphill hopes but downhill habits.” Most want a touch but not a change. To change ourselves, our discomfort must exceed the comfort of tolerating the unacceptable. In other words, “No pain, no gain.” Most of us like the “no pain, no pain” scenario. Most people don’t or won't change what they can tolerate.   

Habits are things that can either work for us or against us. Habits can make you or break you. Habits can be your best friend or worst enemy. Habits are behaviors we do automatically, which we make our default. Habits start with conscious behaviors that end up being automatic behaviors. Habits begin on the outside of us but move to the inside of us. 

I remember when I was learning how to fly a more complex airplane than the airplane I learned how to fly in. At first, I was overwhelmed by all the instruments I needed to watch, the control tower instructions, bringing up the landing gear, adjusting the propeller speed, and flying the plane. However, as I began to fly the plane more and more, these very intentional actions became automatic. I didn't even have to think about it in a very short time. I had discovered the power of habit, just like the thirty-dollar man.

Habits are hard to form, but once they are formed, they can become equally as hard to change. Destructive habits work against us, making life difficult. It doesn't take long to discover that small, tame, little destructive habits can become significant, dragon-like, large habits. Be wise. You can choose to handle destructive habits, or the destructive habits will handle you. The Bible says, "For by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved." 2 Peter 2:19 

Here are some simple tips about getting started by replacing old destructive habits with new constructive ones.

First, quit inspiration. Habits are more dependable. Habits will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Jim Rohn says, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” 

Bryant McGill says, “The secret to permanently breaking any bad habit is to love something greater than the habit.” Do you realize that winners and losers have the same goals? What makes the loser? We don't rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our habits. George Washington Carver says, “Ninety-nine percent of all the failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses.” Making excuses can become a habitual default. Here’s another John Maxwell quote: "If your habits don't align with your dream, then you need to either change your habits or your dream.” 

How do you turn a loser into a learner? Michael Tonge says, "It's the small habits that make a difference. It's how you spend your mornings, how you talk to yourself, what you read, what you watch, who you share your energy with, who has access to you, that will change your life." 

Here’s your thirty-dollar challenge. What habits keep you from becoming all God (or you) want you to become? Do you desire change enough to be held accountable in a way that costs you something when you fail? Ask a friend or lifestyle coach to hold you accountable in that area that needs change. It could be the cheapest thirty dollars, the most expensive thirty dollars, and the most invaluable thirty dollars you have ever spent in your life, all at the same time. 

Our final takeaway for today is from Horace Mann. “Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it daily, and at last, we cannot break it.” Winners are ex-losers who became learners.