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Three steps to developing a habit.
By Mildred Munjanganja | March 14, 2011
William James had a famous formula for developing a habit – in his selected papers on philosophy, he suggests that it will take time for a habit to form, but the following steps are a recipe for success:
1. Make a strong resolution: You must begin with an initiative in mind. Determine what you are trying to achieve, make a public declaration of it by telling someone else.
2. Never allow an exception to occur until the new habit is securely rooted in your life: A habit is like a ball of wool, every time it falls, it unravels. So you cannot allow ‘just this once’ to occur, it will take you many steps back. The act of yielding weakens the will and strengthens the lack of self-control.
3. Seize every opportunity and inclination to practice your new habit: In the beginning, you may need a lot of reminders to stick to your resolve. So practice your habit whenever you can, it may involve using a checklist so you can see your progress.
They say it takes 21 days to develop a habit and 6 weeks to make it natural – so whatever your goal may be, getting a specific area in your life organized, working out, saving money etc; follow these 3 easy steps and watch yourself succeed.
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