I have been listening to the book “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg this past week (I’m about half-way through). 
I have some bad habits that I want to get rid of and some good habits that I want to add. I had heard about this book and thought that it might help. Small changes to my current habits and routines that I hope will add up to significant weight loss and a debt free lifestyle.
So, as I am listening, I realize that there are two pieces to my habits that I had not consciously realized existed–the trigger and the reward. The trigger is what instigates the habits. It made me think about something I used to say, “I always get Twizzlers when I go to the movies.” Now, granted this isn’t the habit to have–but it was one where I could easily identify the trigger. I actually don’t eat Twizzlers any other time. Just at the movies. Trigger=going to the movie theater to watch a movie. Habit=eating Twizzlers. Reward=The sweetness and sugar from the candy.
The book suggested creating a list of all the habits that you want to change. I did it, and filled up two pages with my list. Too many. I’ve picked two that I really want to change.
I have identified the habits, but now I need to reflect and figure out the triggers and the rewards so that I can replace the habits with something new. Triggers will always be there, I just have to learn/practice a different way of responding that will give me the same reward.
Discovering Gratitude:
* CD players in cars for books on “tape”!
* Hugs from teenagers (very rare indeed)!
* The ‘perfect’ sandwich!
* Doggie snores!
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