EP18: How to Break Bad Habits?

THE MECHANICS OF HABIT Our life is mostly governed by our subconscious mind. And habits are something that is ingrained in our subconscious mind. Not all habits are wrong. For example: brushing your teeth everyday this is a habit. And if you don't brush your teeth you don't feel comfortable. And it should be that way! Taking bath is a habit. You take shower everyday. And if you don't feel.. take shower, it won’t feel good. Similarly, people having coffee, if they don't have coffee they get a headache! That whether coffee is good or not, is up to an individual. And their doctors. Certain habits give you pain which are not good for you, for your body, for your mind, or for your spirit. Like for example, people who are addicted to alcoholism. Or cigarette, for example. Knowing well smoking is injurious to health, they still do it. Why? Habit promises joy, but doesn't really deliver it to you. If you ask people who are smoking: are you really ecstatic smoking? They say: no. Usually they say no. But they can't leave it. If you leave it, it’s painful. So, it doesn't… habit doesn't give you any great joy. And you know it is not good for you, for your health. But you can't leave it. Now what do you do in this condition? How to get over this habit? This is a big question. The whole world is grappling with this problem, right? I would say there are three ways to tackle your habits. Number one: You should promise to someone whom you love very much. Suppose you promise your daughter , or your wife, your mother, someone very dear to and you. And you promised : “no, I will not touch this. I will not smoke”. I will tell you: you’ll follow through that. The second way is fear. When your doctor says one more puff that's it. Your liver is going to be… irreparable. And your lungs will collapse. You cannot touch even one single cigarette. Then, out of fear you can get over that habit. Third is greed. Suppose someone tells you: “if you don't smoke for one whole month, I'm going to give you 1,000,000 rupees”. Then you will make sure, it's not just 30 days it is 32 days. Counting he should not go wrong. So that the greed in you, the greed to get that money, something higher than that will help you to let go of those habits. So three things: fear, love and greed. Don’t promise yourself: “forever I will do”. First of all, you can't leave your habit. That makes you miserable. On top of it, unable to keep the promise: that's even more miserable. So, for that I would give you one advice. If the habit is so deep in you. If you feel you cannot get over it. I would tell you: take limited time. Period of time. Say, 10 days. Or one month. I will not do this habit. This is easier for you. One step at a time. I tell you, you will be successful. Same with people addicted to alcohol, you know? It has ruined many families. You're drinking alcohol so much your liver is getting damaged. Your health is badly affected, and your relationships are affected. And then you end up in rehab. And you get better than you come back, and latch onto it again. In all this when you feel guilty about your habit, you start justifying it. I remember one gentleman said: “alcohol has become his blood”. So, if he doesn't drink he would rather die. So, not defend or justify one’s habit, knowing it is no good. And no need to feel guilty about it either. So, it's a fine line. Not to feel guilty because of whatever you feel guilty about it, and you find yourself getting into the spiral again, going down and down and down, and it leads you into depression. In all these situations I would say meditation will definitely heal you pranayama and meditation, along with this taking a vow Or promising someone very dear to you. That you will abstain from it for a period of time. It will definitely get you over these habits. You find yourself fully enthusiastic, you know? And you will talk to other people how you can master over your own habits. That is freedom! Otherwise we are bound by our own habits and which will make us miserable. Day in and out. Right? So, let us do it. Let us meditate, let us do breathing, let us do Kriya. And let us promise to our near one Never mind if you break it. Start again from that time. Don't give up. I tell you, you will be successful. And many have found solace they have been successful in getting over their habits. Rather, getting mastery over their habits.