The Power of Focus - Habits Determine Your Future (Part 2)

- relevant to all who want progress in life. I recommend and encourage you to spread this information to your juniors and friends.

Pic 01 : Highest paid athlete in USA. Was he simply taking a random swing with the golf stick that puts him top of the game?

Pic 02 & Pic 03: Can you do the stunts above on first try? Take a week? a month? Hmmm... I think it takes a lifetime of good discipline and successful habits.

CHANGING HABITS TAKE TIME
You will turn your negatives into positives by changing your habits now. Change takes an instant to occur and time to mature. Your change goes into effect the moment you choose to change. That very instant! But it will take some time to see your changes mature to where you can enjoy the fruit of your improvements. Your change will take time because developing success habits takes time.

Of course, with ongoing exams currently, you may say that its bit too late to change. While I agree with you but don't forget you need this quality to succeed in career, higher ACCA paper levels (Professional Stage) and life.

How much time does it actually take to change a habit? The most common response is 21 days. Studies have shown that if you practice a new habit for an average of 21 days or longer in some cases, it actually becomes easier to do the new habit then it is NOT to do the new habit. This is just a baseline. For any habit you want to change you must ask yourself how long you've owned that habit. Some habits will take longer to change depending on how long and how often they have been practiced. Give yourself reasonable time to adopt new belief systems and new success habits. If you have been dealing with low self esteem for 15 years, it may take you longer than 21 days to change that belief system (yes, belief systems are habits also). On the other hand you could break the bad habit of thinking poorly about yourself in an instant and create your brand new life overnight. There aren't any limits but you must be fair and objective about your rate of change.

NOT REGRESS

The important thing above all will be to remain committed to establishing new habits that build a better future and not falling back into old habits that will only produce the same unhappiness and failure that you may be trying to move away from. A powerful quote says: "If you keep on doing what you've always done, then you will keep on getting what you've always got." This is awesome! By systematically changing one behavior at time you can dramatically improve your overall lifestyle! Once your new habit becomes well developed, it becomes your new normal behavior.

HABITS FORMING STRATEGY

Identify Bad Habits and Replace Them , so if success is based on successful habits you be asking, "How do I identify bad habits?". Bad habits on those actions that cause you to be unproductive and hold you back from realizing your best life now. Examine yourself and ask others about bad habits you have. Only ask people you respect and admire and know you well. You need to hear from people that are for you and not against you.

Your habits and beliefs systems are a product of your environment. Birds of a feather, flock together as the saying goes. This is true! Ever heard of the saying, "Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are." You will pick up and practice those habits and beliefs that are common to your environment. But when you decide to change there is no stopping you. Reach out for and study the successful habits of those who've attained the success you desire. Practice what they do and elevate yourself. Read inspirations stories, visit this blog often to remind yourself what is your purpose in College, watch documentaries on success and the successful.

PRACTICE AND REPEAT

Develop the habit of changing your habits. Change will be you always. Adapt and implement habits that will continually reward with the life you desire. If a habit no longer yields success motivation and positive change, replace with a new habit. Just with thoughts, habits cannot be dropped. Habits are displaced through replacement.

Pic 04: Do you think his culinery skills were developed overnight?

Here is the three step successful habits formula :
1. Clearly identify your bad or unproductive habits.
You at your behavior for now and in the future to get a realistic and objective understanding of how a habit may be unproductive or bad for you. Some habits have a slow burn effect and the results aren't realized until years later. Smoking is a classic example. If you looking at a smoking habit one day at a time, it may not seem as damaging as it actually is. If you view this habit over a lifetime then you can begin to appreciate the the consequences for choosing to change this habit or not change this habit.
2. Define your new successful habit.
Identify your new habits and describe in vivid detail the "benetifs" of acquiring this new habit. You will boost your success motivation when you can clear envision the rewards for successful change. Remember that to obtain the success you desire you must be will to do things today that will create your desire changed for tomorrow. The clearer a vision you have of your rewards and benefits for change, the more likely you are to take action.

Pic 05: KPMG Tower in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Do you have successful habit to be there at the top (CAREER)?

3. Create a 3 Part Action Plan. Decide on 3 immediate actions that you will take to replace your old habit and establish your new successful habit. Start with one habit and take action. You must know exactly what actions you will take to create your new success. It could be reading a book, establishing an accountability partner, going to a support group, or joining a coaching club.

CONCLUSION
The bottom line is that nothing will change in your life until you do. To learn more about the how you obtain successful habits that will create a successful future for your life I recommend reading The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt and Seven Highly Effective Habits by Steven Covey

Useful links:

The Power of Focus - Habits Determine Your Future (Part 1), http://marcusong88.blogspot.com/2008/11/power-of-focus-habits-determine-your_19.html
http://marcusong88.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-cope-with-stress.html
http://marcusong88.blogspot.com/2008/09/bill-gates-bad-role-model.html
http://marcusong88.blogspot.com/2008/08/life-as-student.html