Want to Change Old Habits but Can’t Let Go? Here’s What Can Help!

Have you ever felt frustrated because of a habit or way of doing things?

Do you want to change the same but find yourself falling back into old patterns?

Kudos to you for acknowledging the need to change. Indeed, that’s the first step to long-term transformation.

But before we begin, hear me out on…

What Triggered This Blog

For the past 2 days, I have been binging on the series “Grimm”. Honestly, I started watching cause I wanted to see how the series weaved in stories from Grimm’s fairy tales.

After almost 12 hours of binge-watching (16 episodes of 45 minutes each, you do the math), I realized, “What am I doing?”

Not that the series was bad or had explicit content, but I lost my sleep, lagged on my to-dos, and missed out on other, definitely more important things!

Again, I am not advocating “against” watching the series. Rather, it was my approach that was the problem.

I know myself better than many (except my mom) and I realize how addicted I can get to “doing” things.

But why can’t you just stop, Sany?

Watch an episode and do something productive. Watch it in your “free time”. Watch when you are “bored”. I have received plenty of such advice, time and again, but to no good.

Why?

Because it’s my nature not to stop until something is done. I am a finisher. I never leave things incomplete, or else I will lose my sleep. (Hahaha, indeed, a great way of excusing my binge watch :P)

My Strength Vs. My Want to Change

My strength of owning tasks and seeing them through has played against me multiple times. There have been instances where I refused to let go or let be. Why?

Because I thought I could fix it, change it, “redeem it” or get the most out of it!

Interestingly, often the times that I have failed are ones when I trusted in my own strength and ability to do or refrain from doing things.

Does this happen to you as well? How often have you trusted your own strength to accomplish a task only to see undesired results?

Dealing with the Guilt of Things Done/ Not Done

I wasted “time”, one of the most irreversible and precious elements known to men. I felt condemned, but I refused to be tagged as a chronic time waster!

Why? Because that’s not my identity.

As a human, I have my blind spots. There are times when I don’t have it all lined up, but will my mistakes define who I am? Not for a second!

True enough, now I have a pile of tasks to complete, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be completed.

The Bible tells me who I am. It says that I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me (Romans 8:37).

Being the Righteousness of God in Jesus Christ

To some, my struggle with quitting binge-watching may seem simple. True, the intensity and the nature of the struggle differ from person to person.

Some of you may be struggling with anger issues. Others with “overspending” tendencies. Yet others with porn addiction.

There can be multiple factors eating up your time and energy. You may have taken courses/professional help to alleviate the factors, only to fall back into the old ways.

But even amidst all the struggle and falling back, it’s important not to forget who you are.

You, my friend, are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

And, as a believer, the things/habits you are struggling with are beneath you, cause you are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).

Seeing Through the Deception of the World

As a kid, I loved this quote from The Alchemist: “When you want something, the entire universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

But now as a grown-up (somewhat grown, cause I am still learning), I find nothing could be further from the truth.

Why?

Because the images that the world paints over our eyes are of constant struggle, lack, and a spirit of comparison that keeps us from ever celebrating the milestones!

What milestones are we talking about Sany? Well, it could be anything!

For me, right now, it is not watching Grimm and instead using the time to write this post!

Okay, I Celebrated the Teeny-Weeny Change. Now What?

Great for you, comrade! Now continue to press on (Philippians 3:14)!

For God who has begun a good work in you will surely bring it to completion (Philippians 1:16).

And this time as you progress, don’t congratulate your own strength.

Instead, look to God for He is your strength and refuge, an ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

No mountain is too big for Him to scale, and with Him by your side, you are gonna win every time!

Just like the Psalmist says:

In your strength, I can crush an army;

with my God, I can scale any wall. (Psalm 18:29)