Your habits are one of the most powerful things about you. They will determine where you end up in life and the quality of person you become. For this reason, it’s essential to get a handle on the routines you practice every day. What you actually value is what you do. And the reason habits are so important is that they keep you on track and on the right path. 

Rather than getting pulled in one hundred different directions by your emotions, other people’s opinions, or the circumstances of life, you remain directed. That’s what habits do for you. Keep reading to learn more.

The Outcomes of Your Life are Dependent on Your Habits

Your behavioral patterns dictate your destiny. What you do every day, to a large extent, will determine how things play out for you in the future. In other words, your results are not based on what you think. They are based on what you DO. Your habits reflect your values. For example, I value my family and the connection I have with them…

Strengthening Relationships Through Habits

Whenever my wife has a birthday, she gets treated like a queen. Now, does that mean I treated poorly out of the other 364 days a year? No. Absolutely not. Because if I want a meaningful connection with my wife, I have to make treating her well a habit. Same thing with my kids. My daughter lives all the way in Halifax. I’m based in Calgary.

And while that is a profound gap geographically, we still make it a HABIT to talk regularly. This keeps our connection and relationship strong. The habit of routinely checking in is what strengthens our bond. That is the power of habit from a relational standpoint. 

And as a friend, parent, brother, sister, mother, father, etc., whoever you are or whatever role you play to someone else, you always want to be that habit for connection. You may not be perfect (who among us is?), but the good news is that you don’t have to be. 

You just have to be there for others when it matters. That’s the game changer that happens when you dial in your habits with those that you love and care about. 

What is a Habit?

Here’s the thing… Habits are more than just routines. They are patterns. Patterns of action, of course, but they are also patterns of emotion. For this reason, it’s important to be aware of your emotional patterns. I recently received a message from someone. They were trying to find out why they so often find themselves in patterns of negative emotions. 

And the response that I gave them was not brilliant. I just asked them if they could start journaling about it. Write it down. The reason I asked him to do that was that when you journal enough, you start to recognize patterns. Certain highs and lows will become apparent. These patterns then become predictable—within reason. It’s not an exact science. 

Changing Habits 101

If you’re looking to change your habits for the better, there are a few strategies you can employ that can be helpful. These tactics will give you a leg up on your personal development so that you can install new and better quality habits into your life. 

• The rule of 15/85: If you can get the first 15% of any process down, the remaining 85% will take care of itself. Now, what does that mean in terms of forming new habits? That means that the rule of 15/85 states you need to master your mornings. If you master your mornings, you will master your life.
• The rule of self-image: You will never perform at a level that is beyond your own self-concept. It’s shocking to me that after all the work I’ve done on myself, I still wake up with that little bitch voice in the back of my head—that imposter syndrome. And every day, I have to ask myself if I’m going to embrace or move past that voice. And every day, I CHOOSE to fight against it. I refuse to believe that voice. 
• The rule of emotional regulation: I have a simple message for you: Get in touch with your emotions. Often, we have this thought that we need to bottle everything up and keep our emotions to ourselves. But the truth is that we need to express how we’re feeling in order to move past our negative emotions.

Habit change is not easy. The good news, though? It is absolutely possible. With the right concepts at the forefront of your mind, you can shift your routines and behaviour so that they are more aligned with your goals.

Final Thoughts

Whether you want to start a Fortune 500 company or simply be a pillar of your community, your habits are going to dictate how far you go. For this reason, it’s important to ensure yours are tuned in properly. And we at Certified Flourishing Coach can help. We are a team of expert coaches, facilitators, and entrepreneurs. And we’re here to support you on your journey. 

So, if you’re ready to flourish in both business and in life, then we want to hear from you. Contact us today to learn more.

 Listen on Spotify 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcast

About the Author