How you act and what you choose to do in every situation has an immense influence on your overall happiness, well-being, and success in life. And when it comes to changing your life, the most effective way to do that is to focus on developing or eliminating habits that may be influencing your well-being. Nearly 40 percent of all the things you do in a day are the result of a habit, not a choice, so replacing these can significantly change your life.

Your habits form most often without much real thought from you. You do something, it works, so you do it again. These habit loops, though, are not always comprised of healthy ideas or choices. Here are some ways that habits could be helping or hurting you.

#1. Your cravings drive your habits. When you crave something, you are anticipating the reward at the end. Therefore, to develop healthier habits, you must learn to want the reward of an outcome that is more conducive to your well-being.

#2. Most of your daily activities related to keeping yourself alive, like eating, drinking, and seeking shelter or safety, are based on habits, not conscious choices.

#3. Your values about food and activity are formed incredibly early in life, and these are what form the basis for many of your habits later in life.

#4. While we may eat sweets to ease a craving for sweets, what we actually desire is a break in the routine and some stimulation from something new.

#5. Forming new habits is like building strength in a new muscle, and it takes time, patience, and dedication.

Your habits play a significant role in your ability to reach your goals and to reach your potential, and through careful cultivation and refinement of your habits, you can gain greater control over your life and your success.

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of CHOICES Magazine