Let me start off by cracking the cliché statement:
"We are, all of us, creatures of habit"
We are taught from an early age many things that are considered "good habits" such as exercising, drinking water, reading, so on and so forth.
Obviously assuming that all of us were brought up on a similar background. And this is quite important when understanding why people have certain #habits and are side eyed by others.
So exactly dictates whether a habit is good or bad? (Besides the scientifically proven ones that are simply not open to debate).
Because if we think of it, everything that is good in excess can turn into something bad - hence addictions.
A super fit person can become an exercise addict and go down on an obsessive spiral and over exercise, not giving the much needed rest to the body by simply being a couch potato sometimes.
And here is where the "guilty pleasure" kicks in.
Guilty pleasure is nothing but an activity we like but it’s looked down on by others, so we do it when we are by ourselves because we are ashamed of it.
Don't take me wrong, cult movies are super cool! There are some masterpieces out there, but sometimes I really don't feel like watching any of them.
On rough days I just want to watch something brainless and light (chick flick enters the chat) and relax.
No, guilt! It is what it is!
But it wasn't always like that...
Until I came across this chapter on a book:
"Own Your Bad Habits" - and I stopped there, looking at that page and letting it sync in.
That was the moment I decided that from that moment on I wouldn't let other people judge my habits and pleasures, and NEVER, I mean NEVER again I would apologize for something that I liked.
Honestly, just doing what is good for me and makes me feel good.
Whenever I get a comment on how much I curse and that's not an appropriate behavior for a pretty and young lady, I just laugh it off with a "Yes, pretty, young and with a sailor mouth"
I'm a smoker but I also like to go the gym, which tends to confuse people and make them get all up on my business with their useless opinions thinking they are the one person that would make me quit.
Here are a few gems:
- "Do you know smoking can and most probably will kill you?" - REALLY? I had no idea! Thank you sooooo much for reading the pack, which I carry around all day, for me! I really thought it was a guacamole recipe!
- "Why do you go to the gym if you still smoke?" - Well, because cigarettes don't burn body fat.
- "That's toxic." - Yeah, and so are you.
The list goes on...
I also noticed that when I stopped being ashamed of my "bad habits" and "guilty pleasures" I wouldn't gravitate so much towards them.
Breaking the shame and judgmental "chains" made me less guilty and enjoy those moments even more resulting in a decrease of indulgence.
So, no matter what you say people won't quit on their bad habits because you said so (and they most likely already know whatever piece of information you think you're giving).
It's upon each one of us to make the call of changing, so until then, OWN IT.
Own your habits (all of them, good or bad); take the guilty out of your pleasures and by that you'll be already making a change in habits.
Let's take it step by step.