*Our habits are what we choose them to be*


In the words of William James:
"All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits."

These habits develop when the brain is able to chunk a sequence of actions into an energy-efficient and automatic routine, which we then perform unconsciously. Good habits allow us to seamlessly incorporate healthy routines into our lives, with the added bonus of freeing up our brain power to focus on life's other details. On the other hand, bad habits can hijack our brains and lead us to feel as if we are prisoners of our cravings and self-sabotaging behaviors.

Charles Duhigg's amazing book _The Power of Habit_ not only provides a fascinating exploration of the anatomy and development of habits in individuals, organizations, and societies, but it also shows how we do ultimately have the power to replace our bad habits with good ones. Duhigg explains how the three components of a habit loop are: cue--> routine--> reward, and that the key to changing any kind of habit is to keep the same cue and reward but change the routine. For example, AA works by attacking the habits that surround the drinking habit loop: it substitutes new routines (attending regular meetings instead of imbibing regular drinks) in response to the same cues (neurological cravings to ease anxiety and emotional discomfort ), while providing the same rewards (escape, relaxation, companionship, the blunting of anxieties, and an opportunity for emotional release).

Neurologically savvy companies have tapped into the (economic) potential of the habit loop. The minty and frothy effect of toothpaste (which, by the way is a purely sensual effect that offers no additional cleaning power) creates a neurological craving that ensures we'll be habitual consumers of toothpaste. The manufacturers of Febreze realized that adding the "scent reward" to their product provided enough incentive for consumers to regularly incorporate the product into their cleaning routines. Target has done such extensive research on the buying habits of its customers, that it has become a master at predicting and manipulating our buying habits. (Those coupons it sends you are specifically targeted at your buying habits! ) Even radio stations have tuned into the power of the habit loop: when introducing a new song, they play it in between two familiar songs that our brains already unconsciously craves due to their recognizability.

A little less disturbing is how companies have also been using the power of the habit loop to transform the health of their corporate cultures and help employees perform at their potentials. Starbucks, for example, helps employees build "willpower habits" to develop the self-discipline that allows them to use routines to effectively respond to daily challenges. (Perhaps these same employees could refer to this book for any on-the-job coffee habits they may have developed.) Societies also use the habit loop to drive social movements. In essence, a social movement starts with social habits of friendships, and then grows due to the habits of a community, and endures when people are able to incorporate new habits to create a sense of identity and ownership.

The book provides insight into how we as individuals can tap into the power of habit to improve our lives. As the author points out, all habits are malleable, and once we become aware of them, we have both the freedom--and responsibility--to remake them. This modification of a habit does require the hard work that involves identifying the cues and rewards that drive the habits routines, and finding alternatives. With this knowledge, every habit can be changed--from how we eat and sleep to how we spend our time, attention, and money. Even the most addicted alcoholics can achieve sobriety, the most dysfunctional corporations can be transformed, and the most oppressive societies can be improved. Once we make our habits visible, they become within our control, and change becomes possible. We can harness the power of habit with the insight that our habits are what we chose them to be.

I'm so glad that my reading habit lead me to this book! I wouldn't be surprised if I become a habitual reader of Charles Duhigg. (Hey, but at least that'd be a healthy habit in my life's mass of habits!)