"Going Cold Turkey"

Most of us have some bad habits that we know we ought to quit.

When we think about changing these bad habits, it can be like the five stages of death and dying:

Sometimes we are in denial about how bad these habits are. Sometimes we’re angry at the thought of having to give them up. Sometimes we’re bargaining as we make deals with ourselves about when, and how, and how much. Sometimes we are depressed about what life would be like without these habits. Tthat last stage, acceptance, can sometimes seem pretty far away.

Here’s an important idea. But it comes with a big caution: THIS ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU APPLY IT TO YOURSELF. It backfires bigtime when you apply it to anyone else. (I apply it to myself. I do not apply it to my wife.)

Here’s the idea: Quit cold turkey. Just go ahead and quit 100%. All at once. Dramatically. With no warm up, no build up, no gradual increments. Just quit. When you’re ready to be done with the habit, just quit it. Cold turkey. Stop doing it.

If you don’t think you should be yelling at your loved ones, then stop yelling. If you think you should spend more time with your family, then do it. If you want to change your eating habits, change them. If you want to start exercising, go ahead. If you want to say loving words to each other every day, get started today. Just do it.

You’ll still have to struggle with all the old feelings, thoughts and habits. There’s no quick way out of that. But you can end the drama of "acting out" the bad habit. And maybe you should — maybe right now.