7 Bad habits people need to change

Do you ever kick yourself for doing something when you knew better? For example, there are a lot of people wishing they had gotten out of the stock market earlier. And in the realm of relationships, so many people have the same sensation – they’re in a bad relationship, but they struggle to…

By Seth Barnes

17 October 2008, 12:10 am

By Seth Barnes

17 October 2008, 12:10 am

Do you ever kick yourself for doing something when you knew better? For example, there are a lot of people wishing they had gotten out of the stock market earlier. And in the realm of relationships, so many people have the same sensation – they’re in a bad relationship, but they struggle to get out of it. They are locked in a destructive pattern, but feel powerless to do anything about it, a victim of their bad habit of reactive, crisis-living. I’ve been there and have learned that I needed to change if I wanted my circumstances to change. My circumstances were often a product of my own bad habits.

Don’t you hate making mistakes? I do – which is one reason I try to stay open to people’s feedback – I’d rather hear it from them up front than through some other way. It’s also why I can appear to people to be too self-critical. By learning to do this, I broke one of the bad habits I list below that characterized me when I was younger. Part of my success in life has come as I’ve had the discipline to change my habits. And I’m not blowing my own horn here – I just want to encourage you to go through that same process so you can be happier.

Let’s face it, most people want to enjoy the fruits of success, but sometimes they can be their own worst enemies. We all periodically struggle just to make it from day-to-day. But did you ever find yourself in a season where life seems to whiz by you leaving you scratching your head?

Some people have it really bad – they repeat cycles of destructive behavior, grinding their teeth in frustration as they do so. Instead of the goal-driven life of awareness and proactivity that Stephen Covey recommended in his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, they live life from crisis to crisis.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Bad habits can be broken and good ones acquired. If you’re looking to change your luck, let me suggest that you begin by identifying those habits that get in your way. Check out the following seven bad habits and see if any describe you:

7 Bad habits people need to change

1. They respond to crises and errands rather than goals. (take initiative instead)

2. They take action based on what feels urgent. (be proactive instead)
3. They react to life instead of anticipating it. They don’t have the discipline to plan. (begin with the end in mind instead)
4. They don’t listen well are motivated to communicate their needs before hearing out someone else. (listen to people first instead)
5. They are selfish, seeking to meet their own needs first, often at the expense of others. (find the win/win instead)
6. They don’t exercise their imagination in helping others out and are content with managing what exists rather than creating possibilities. (look for synergies instead)
7. They don’t work at improving themselves on a regular basis. (sharpen your saw instead)

If you recognize a habit of yours somewhere in the list, I recommend that you get Covey’s book. It will change your life.

Comments (2)

Carol C

October 17, 2008 at 6:04 am

Fascinated to know what the 7 good habits are now! Think I will head over to surf on Amazon……

lol Cxx
Jen S

October 17, 2008 at 10:03 am

Hahaha Carol! I agree with you!

wow! I recognize so many of those attributes. I am grateful to die to flesh.

Missing you guys, Seth. Pray for you often!!!