Is Determination Alone Enough to Change Those Bad Habits?

Most of us have been taught that everything is achievable with enough effort. But sometimes willpower alone won't be sufficient to break a pattern that we've been repeating for years. Being determined is undoubtedly a necessary component for altering your behaviors, but in my 20 years of mentoring and coaching entrepreneurs, I can assure you that it is insufficient.

Here is why

Your beliefs have a direct impact on your behaviors.

No matter how committed you are to doing things correctly, nothing you push, force, or challenge yourself with will be sustainable if your beliefs are at odds with the ACTION you need to take. You'll probably notice a shift for a few days and get some momentum, but within 10 to 21 days you'll revert to your previous behaviors.

This is so because your fundamental ideas energetically align with the behaviors (or lack thereof) you do.

It's likely that you have conflicting attitudes about success if you prefer to put off company expansion activities.

Or maybe you lack the guts to demand more prices for your services. However, if you check about, you'll see that many are charging far more! You therefore conclude in your head that "there is no way that could work for me" since "no one will ever pay me more." Or you could think about it for a time and decide that you can't do it because "what if no one buys at that price?"

That line of inquiry would likely lead us to the conclusion that you have a limiting view about your value on a fundamental level.

Here's another illustration.

Your coach demonstrates time management techniques to you. You KNOW what you should be doing every day to gain momentum, yet every day you find yourself drawn into a number of low-value pursuits.

Even if you KNOW you SHOULD act differently, you DO NOT. Why? because you're struggling inside with success. You believe that you want to earn more money or run a great company, but you've been living a lie about what will occur in the process.

You worry about what you would have to give up, such as time with your family, your independence, a pastime, or maybe even your ingrained sense of inadequacy.

You worry about what other people could think about you, such as that you are bad or superior to them .

You could even be concerned that giving your company your all might backfire . What happens if it DOESN'T ? Who will believe it ?

How then can one genuinely alter behaviors for good ?

To elevate the behaviors or habits you engage in, you must recode your beliefs—the internal mental models and concepts that guide your decision-making . Sometimes you may change your behavior right away by being aware of the thought that is controlling it. Other times , you need assistance in order to recognize the limiting beliefs that need to be changed .

Another strategy is to compile a list of all the justifications , tales , and beliefs you tell yourself to maintain that behavior. Then , if you see yourself engaging in an old pattern, ask yourself : " What am I now saying myself to maintain this habit? Is this something I'm telling myself or is it really true ? " You should be able to break the old habit thanks to it. Make sure to swap out the old behavior right away with a new one that is more conducive to your desired result!

Do you think you may have restricting thoughts or behaviors that hinder your success ?