Habit Development

Its a neuro-chemical fact that habit patterns are etched in your brain. They are neuro-chemical path ways. Computer program illustrate this in a simplistic way. A computer program uses pages of binary code, symbols, numbers and letters that don't mean anything as you see it on the page, everybody has probably experienced opening up some file that they can't read its all this what they call machine code, it doesn't make any sense but when a programmer enters it into the computer system it takes on meaning and creates a program. So when the person at the key board presses some keys and hits enter, at the speed of light produces a command, the response. Your brain 100 billion brain cells, it processes electricity at one one thousands of a second, making 30,000 new cell connections every single second never repeating the same pattern. We process thought at 1,250 words per/minute and speak at approximately 250 words per/minute.

A habit is experience that has been repeated so that it is etched into your brain and when something triggers a particular feeling at the speed of light you get a response. Just like when the person types in a bunch a keys and hits enter you get a response. Because of the repetition of a response to a feeling you have created a habit or a behavior now if you want to break this habit when you get that feeling instead of doing what you normally do (the response) you employ will power and do something different, your goal or new habit. By doing this you have just jumped track shall we say and formed a new path way. To form a new habit it has been estimated that you keep that up for 21 - 80 days depending upon your diligence you can form a new habit or response to your old feeling.

So if you want to change what you do you must change what you think. You are what you think. Face, trace, erase and replace is not only good psychology, but accurate biology and excellent theology as well. Do don't just stop doing some poor behavior you replace it with something new that's the essence of Rom 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.