Happy Thursday to you!

How are you doing today? It's finally snowing where I live! Fortunately, the snow is not sticking (which is perfect for commutes back and forth from work). I know that no one enjoys shoveling driveways and brushing snow off cars. I have to admit, I love this time of year. The sky is always so bright after snowfall. With that said, it is time to get into today's post.

Every day you receive lots of great advice. "Drink more water." "Exercise regularly." "Forgive." "Work smart, not hard." The list could continue forever. However, let's be honest. Implementing all of the great counsel can be extremely difficult. Various factors come into play while trying to mature into your best self. Some thought patterns and behaviors stem from your upbringing. New temptations can also be another obstacle. In addition, loved ones can also be a hindrance to breaking negative and forming positive habits. Ultimately, the greatest barrier to maturation is yourself.

You have to get to the point where you're tired of making the same mistake. You have to become uncomfortable (even disgusted) with the thought of doing the wrong things. Love life more than you love the lifestyle that's destroying you. Ignore those people who encourage you to drink (even though they know you're an alcoholic). Stop hanging out with friends who encourage promiscuity when you're trying to remain monogamous. Don't allow others to shame you for overcoming gluttony and choosing to eat healthier.

One will say, "These examples are hypothetical. Such occurrences never happen." My response to that person is, everyone struggles with something. Your problem may not be alcoholism, promiscuity, or gluttony. Perhaps, your bad habit is multi-tasking or procrastination. Either habit can negatively impact the quality of your output. No matter how old you are, there is some area of your life that needs improvement.

To overcome bad habits, you have to be willing to fight against the mindset that enables constant faults. When you err, don't give up. Develop a permanent resolve to work passionately toward self-improvement.

Do you have any bad habits that are hard to break? Have you given up the process of self-improvement? How do you plan to get back on track?

Love,

CompassionateLee

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.