The Power of Habits

We all have habits that we follow every day without even thinking about them. From the way we brush our teeth to the route we take to work, these habits are deeply ingrained in our brains and can be hard to break. In his book, "The End of Overeating," David Kessler tells a story about how he was able to break a habit and avoid a restaurant that he found himself frequently visiting.

The Temptation of Habits

Kessler was struggling with his weight and his tendency to overeat. He found himself wanting fried dumplings every time he approached the food court at the San Francisco airport. Despite his best intentions to eat healthily, his desire for the dumplings was more salient and he would give in to temptation and get the delicious dumplings. It became an unhealthy habit. Kessler realized that he needed to break this habit to be successful in his weight loss journey.

Mindful Awareness + Habit = Mindless Health

To break this habit, Kessler decided to try something different. Instead of taking his usual route through the airport, he took steps to protect himself—a different route that avoided the restaurant altogether. This helped him to avoid the cue to get the dumplings. Over time, Kessler found that the new route became his new habit. He no longer even thought about the restaurant, and his desire to stop there disappeared. By changing his routine and avoiding the temptation altogether, Kessler was able to break his old habit and create a new, stronger one…and make progress towards his goals.

The Power of Changing Our Habits

Kessler's story is a powerful reminder of the impact that our habits can have on our lives. Whether we are trying to lose weight, quit smoking, or break any other bad habit, it can be difficult to make progress if we continue to follow the same routines. By making a conscious effort to change our habits and try something new, we can break free of our old patterns and create new, healthier routines. Sometimes this is accomplished by avoiding cues altogether, by taking a different route, and other times it may be enough to limit your exposure to the cue or direct your attention elsewhere.

Conclusion

Breaking a habit can be challenging, but as David Kessler's story shows, it is possible. By taking a different route and avoiding the tempting restaurant, Kessler was able to break his habit and make progress towards his goals. We can learn from his experience and apply his lessons to our own lives, as we work towards breaking our own bad habits and creating healthier, more fulfilling routines.