Five Steps to Developing a New Habit

May God Smile On You

This comment came from my son after he read this article. I thought you might find it helpful as well.

I wanted to share this with you. I found an article/talk on Provident Living.com given by Elder Carlos E Asay.

I took notes of what he said, and did some compiling and adding of my own thoughts to create this.

My defined habit is that I want to read scriptures every morning, and end the day with working on my 12 step program, journal, and prayer morning and night. So far I have three days! Love, Ron
 

 

 

---

 

 

 

The Six Steps to cultivating new habits.

Information is based upon a talk given by:

Carlos E Asay in 1982 entitled “Flaxen Threads”

(1) Define the desired habit (One small step at a time. Choose one resolve at a time. It is better to make and keep one resolve than to make many and never achieve them).

 

Indentify your desired habit –
Verbalize it out loud and in prayer -
Write it down –

 

(2) Bind yourself to act by telling others about your desired new habit and the commitment you have made.

 

Who are they? (Please list their names)

(3) Put the new conduct into operation – Practice your desired habit.

“That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself is changed, but that our power to do it is increased. [GS p. 355]”

“It may not be out of place to say that every man (and [every] woman) is controlled by Habit. When Habits are young they are like lion cubs, easily managed, but later there comes a time when they manage you. Bad Habits may put you on the Avernus Jerkwater, No. 23, with a one way to Nowhere. Good Habits are mentors, guardian angels, and servants that regulate your sleep, your work, your thought. [Selected Writings of Elbert Hubbard (New York: William H. Wise, 1922), vol. 2., p. 195]”

(4) Bolster your will or desire through focusing on the results of our desired outcome. For example, how will I feel when I have developed this habit? How will it improve my life? This is also a good time to reflect upon the spiritual aspects of your new habit, especially if the habit has spiritual applications. Here are two thoughts to consider.

“I know that he [God] granteth unto men according to their desire, . . . yea, I know that he alloteth unto men. . . according to their wills. [Alma 29:4]”

When we bolster our desire, we begin to “reflect seriously upon the forgiving nature of God and Christ’s atonement.”

His selfless atonement can provide motivation and power for us to stick to it!

(5) Do not look back, and NO EXCEPTIONS!

“’Look not behind thee’ (Genesis 19:17)”

“Do not be deceived! There are no niceties, no goodnesses associated with sin, however small or large the transgression may appear. King David’s flaxen-thread glance at Bathsheba resulted in the strong cords of adultery and death. The little murmurs of Laman and Lemuel led to the big breakup of a family and the splitting of a nation. Moreover, the little errors which you and I commit can become very binding if not checked–if not checked.”

(6) Plunge wholeheartedly into your new habit. There are two thoughts to consider:

You do not let go of old habits gradually and move into new ones slowly. You do not taper off from the old, because that only prolongs the struggle.               

“This action [requires]…complete faith and reliance [upon the Lord]  in the new direction [you] are taking.”

Conclusion – My hope is that all of us can achieve our desired habit, and thereby more completely apply the atonement and the principal of repentance into our lives. Compiled and thoughts added by Ron Sherman

Advertisement