Conquer Self-Inflicted Habits

You can conquer self-inflicted habits. The first step with awareness.

Unawareness is not knowing that you don't know.

Victory is attained when you identify self-inflicted habits and develop a plan to win. 

SThis post will identify seven self-inflicted habits and solutions to conquer.  The self-inflicted habits I will discuss are: shortcuts, slothfulness or laziness, procrastination, negative thinking, overthinking, passivity, and unfocused activities. 

You may think of others.  If so, feel share them in the comments. 

1. Shortcuts 
Shortcuts are when you look for or attempt to take the easiest route.  Shortcuts can also include plagiarizing or taking someone's writing, work, or ideas as their own.  There are no shortcuts. 

Solution:  In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., "You must take the steps."  In other words, go through the process and learn from your trials.  Be inspired by others, cite them properly, but never ever steal.  Ask God to give you the creativity and wisdom to excel.  

2. Slothfulness 
Laziness is another word for slothfulness.  Slothfulness hinders forward momentum.  Slothfulness is dangerous.  Proverbs 6:6 gives the best advice, it says  "Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.  Learn from their ways and become wise!" 

Disclaimer: This is not to provide medical advice.  However, some health conditions can cause slothfulness. If this is the case seek the assistance of a medical professional.

Solution: Employ Proverbs 6:6. Be consistent in your activities.  This could include small steps toward health related activities such as eating healthier and exercise. Focus on positive tasks by reducing or eliminating distractions such as watching TV or social media activities.

3. Procrastination 
Procrastination thrives on last minute activities. Some feel empowered by delay.  This is a false concept. Delayed motivation can cost time and money.  Avoid being inspired by deadlines

Solution:  Plan it out.  Set small goals  toward your deadline.  Give yourself ample time to review and revise.  

4. Negative Thinking 
Thoughts are seeds.  Thoughts have energy.  Negative thoughts are draining.  Negative thinking is reinforced by meditating, repeating or concentrating on what could, did, or may happen.  The kin folk of negative thinking is slothfulness and procrastination.  Think about what you are thinking about.  

Solution:  Philippians 4:8, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Cast down, capture, arrest any thought that goes contrary to thoughts spoken in this powerful scripture.

5. Overthinking
Forward momentum is deterred by overthinking.  When one overthinks they engage in analyzing ev-er-y-thing.  Overthinking makes simple thing complicated.  God uses foolish things to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27), because it is foolish or time-consuming to overthink.

Solution:  Seek God's help in your planning.  Make a plan.  Seek Godly counsel, then move forward.  You will gain insight from what seems like a mistake, but you will learn by not engaging in the process of overthinking.

6. Passivity
Passivity is not caring or being void of passion.  Passivity causes one to be slothful, not move, or take action when action or opportunity arises.  Passivity is kin to drifting.  To drift is not to have purpose.  We are all created for a purpose.  Avoid passivity.  

Solution:  Become purposeful.  Be purposeful in your relationships, work, and daily activities.  Ask God to show you how amazingly you are and who you are called to serve.  You have a purpose.  Your passion will draw you out of passivity.  

7. Unfocused 
This is a big one.  We live in a world full of distractions.  There is so much to do and not enough time.  Lacking focus keeps most individuals from fulfilling their God-given destiny.  Unfocused activities gets nothing done.  Distractions involves any activity that distracts a person from staying on task.  

Solution:  Be intentional.  Stay on one task until complete.  Even if it is a big task.  Work on small sections at a time.  Give each project your undivided attention.  Build on remaining focused incrementally as it may take time to reset self-inflicted habits.

The key to conquering self-inflicted habits is to identify them.  Once the habits are identified, take one habit at a time and rebuild the new you.  You can do it!

Kingdom Blessings,

​DeborahT