Inspired by the sight of a new calendar, we vow to do better during the coming year. We resolve to break a bad habit (to stop overeating, to stop going to bed so late) or to build a good habit (to be a better listener, to exercise more). All too often we find that the force and momentum of our old habits soon overcome our best intentions.

We hope to replace our bad habits with good ones, or at least better ones. But what about habit itself? The dictionary defines habit as “an unconscious pattern of behavior.” Habits are personal software programs that allow us to live most of our life on auto-pilot. These software programs were written many years ago and often were installed by other people (known as parents). It makes sense that our software might require an upgrade for us to function at our best.

But here’s a deeper reason to look at our habits. Buddha, Jesus and many other spiritual teachers taught that we need to wake up from an unconscious, habit-driven way of living to become fully-conscious free human beings. Jesus advised against “pouring new wine into old wine skins.” In other words, don’t process new life experiences with outdated thought patterns. When people asked Buddha if he was divine, he said simply, “I am one who has awakened.”

Years ago I decided to only have one New Year’s resolution each year (the most challenging and rewarding one I could imagine): to live each day consciously and creatively. I found that focusing on living each moment with awareness has allowed me to respond to life more authentically and more successfully.

How does it work? Instead of focusing on individual habits I focus on staying conscious throughout the day. Instead of dieting, I eat with awareness. Instead of an ambitious new exercise regimen or early-to-bed resolutions, I listen to my body’s needs and respond to them. Instead of trying to “be more considerate,” I aim to be more conscious in all my relationships.

So this year, why not break the ultimate habit — the habit of living from habit. Although good habits are better than bad ones and being completely free of habits isn’t a realistic goal, we can all experience more freedom and renewed excitement about our lives if we free ourselves from the dictatorship of our habits.

The key to living consciously instead of sleep-walking through life is to pay attention to what you are saying to yourself at each moment: your “Inner Talk.” Examining your Inner Talk gives you access to the software that’s been running your life. You can decide what to keep and what to change. The good news is you are not a prisoner of your past conditioning. You can choose new Inner Talk based on your true values and your life purpose.

If conscious and creative living is your ultimate goal, why not use daily life as practice? Approaching each moment as fresh and new will keep your mind sharper, your body healthier and your heart happier. When new Inner Talk flows through the neurons and synapses of your brain, old habit patterns start to dissolve automatically. Each day is more exciting and filled with new potential when you approach it with “beginner’s mind.” You begin to live in the paradise of the present moment.

Best wishes for a conscious and creative New Year!

Robert Gerzon is a holistic psychotherapist, life coach and author of “Finding Serenity in the Age of Anxiety.” Please visit http://www.gerzon.com for more information and inspiring personal growth articles. Robert helps people free themselves from past conditioning and live the life they were born to live. He has appeared on Oprah and other TV and radio programs.

There isn’t a single person on this planet that wouldn’t want to get rich, except for very religious people, like priests and monks. Living a life of comfort with no burdens on mind, like the need to get out there and get a job or your family will starve, is something everyone wants. The truly wealthy have been given “freedom” from labor and financial worry. There isn’t anything (material in form) beyond their reach – if they want something, they get that something without hesitations. The reader (you) of this article is probably after the same thing, which is to get rich fast and easy.

There are many people like you, searching the net and “storing” every single piece of information they run into. That’s what gave the rich monkeys out there to get even richer: take advantage of your desire on how to get rich, and use it to increase their wealth exponentially. They share with you their ideas on how they made it, which is suppose to benefit you, and in turn benefits them – everybody happy. So now I ask you this: after ordering all those get rich products (the ones that have been proven to work), why are you still a bum? Why are you still stuck to busting your ass over a day job that doesn’t pay well, or working the night shift just to have something on your plate? That leaves many people stumped, but I know the real reason behind it – ready? Here goes: you’re not putting the ideas you’ve learned into action.

You could memorize the the entire wealth building product front to back for all I care, and still end up living the same boring routine you follow day after to day if you don’t put it into action. The ideas weren’t meant to rot in you mind, they were meant for practical application, for you to get rich. According to statistics, there are thousands of people around the world, like yourself, buying these products, but approximately 90% of them DO NOT put them to work! Here’s why: that very 90% I just mentioned, think that there’s too many out there already using the ideas, which makes them feel that the money market has already been tapped.

That, my dim witted friend, is completely wrong! If you were to sharpen that dull brain of yours, you’d realize that there’s way too many of them out there without the balls to put anything into motion. All they do is gather all the ideas they can get and IMAGINE the whole thing in their minds, wishing that their lives were as a great as it would be if they actually applied what they learned – hope you aren’t one of them. So if you do still have plans on getting out your pathetic daily routine, and step up to get rich, know this: get a “get rich program” that works, stick with it, and just do it.

Jump on the opportunity without a single doubt in your mind, and you’ll find yourself living the good life. All it takes are your balls going in the right direction, plus the knowledge you’ve gained. Success doesn’t come knocking on your door the minute you put the whole shebang into play, it may take some time, but it’ll be there soon enough – then everything you ever wanted will be yours for the taking.

By: Rick Goldfeller

Habit Busting Secrets:
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* Lying

Turn your bad habits into positive habits, learn here how >>