Creating Positive Habits

Some habits do not upset us, but others can cause irritation, frustration
and desperation. We want to rid ourselves of them: but how?

When we look at the creation and fulfillment of thoughts, it looks like a
closed system: the thoughts lead to actions, the actions create a series of
impressions (sanskars), and these impressions are responsible for similar
thoughts, which lead us to similar actions, this is a vicious cycle.

If we want to change a habit, then where do we start? In other words, where
do we change the system or how do we get out of the cycle? First of all, we
can try changing our negative actions: for example, stop a negative habit
like smoking. In many cases, although we change our behaviour, but because
we have not understood deeply why we wanted to do it, is quite possible that
one day we will go back to this old habit.

We can try changing this system in our subconscious. By analysing what is
recorded in our subconscious, through different therapies, the results are
not altogether satisfactory. There is always some traumatic event, or
painful experience behind a fear which causes us to cling on to a negative
habit. And although we can see and recognise our fears and anxieties, if we
do not replace them with something better, with a more beneficial and
healthier alternative, very often we will feel tempted to cling on to these
old systems, even though they do not work and they make us unhappy. To
eliminate certain things we have recorded in our subconscious, meditation
and silence are the most effect non-violent methods.A

Another method is to try and change our beliefs with positive affirmations
(thoughts) that strengthen our willpower, and thus introduce a new habit to
replace the old one. It is vital not to repeat this affirmation
mechanically, but to introduce it into the system of beliefs we hold, and
act as if we already were what we express in this affirmation.